Do I have any sort of case?? Please help

[JessieP1991]

Hi Everyone
So I am 9 weeks pregnant. I work in a dentist as a receptionist and work right next to a pharmacy. At week 7 I had to go and get some anti sickness tablets which tbh have not helped but got the prescription filled out next to my work I’m friendly with them so obviously they knew what the tablets were for but I said no one at work knew yet as I’m very early on.
To my surprise one of my co workers who knew (only 2 know who I’m very close to) said that the other girl I sit at reception with told her I’m pregnant and she was told this information by our old cleaner who used to work for us when she was in the pharmacy next door collecting a prescription.
So basically the pharmacy has told our old cleaner who has then taken it upon herself to tell one of my work colleagues who I’m not close with at all who then has now told one of my close colleagues.
I no this sounds like an utter joke and something out of a school tale but this is very much true and exhausting.
I had no plans telling my boss or manager until 12 weeks as I wanted to be careful.
But I’m sure that is a massive breach of GDPR I’m just not sure how to go about it?

And also I’m extremely annoyed that my work colleague has taken it upon herself to tell another colleague surely this isn’t ethical?

the cleaner - was she another customer who may have overheard? How can you be sure the pharmacy told her? Could she have found out via a mutual friend or does she know one of your relatives?

the colleague - maybe have a quiet word and say its a private matter and not for discussion?

I've had anti sickness tablets prescribed when not pregnant, so unless you told them that you're expecting I don't see how your prescription would have let them know!

I told the pharmacy I was pregnant I’ve worked next door to them for two years.
My colleague was told by my other colleague that our old cleaner was told by the pharmacy I am pregnant. But not to say anything as I’m not 12 weeks yet. I very much don’t think they thought when they mentioned it but I don’t really like the cleaner that much

What on earth are the pharmacy doing disclosing your personal medical information to effectively randoms off the street?! Your main 'beef' is with them, as they are who you shared the information with, and they are acting in a capacity of having a duty of trust and confidentiality about people who are effectively patients.

Also you shouldn't be happy about the cleaner gossiping, but not a lot you can do about that.

You could raise a grievance against the employee who initially found out from the cleaner and decided not to keep it quiet.

I've had anti sickness tablets prescribed when not pregnant, so unless you told them that you're expecting I don't see how your prescription would have let them know!

It was absolutely crucial the OP mentioned she was pg. There are many medicines that have contraindications for pregnancy, increasing risk of m/c, foetal damage etc. For anti-sickness I cannot imagine a pharmacy not asking the question "is there a risk you might be pg?"

I'm with flowery, what the hell was Pharmacy staff thinking of, gossiping about your personal information to the former cleaner (or anyone!). They should have been given adequate training to have known they don't disclose information given in the course of their duties.

The pharmacy 'gossip' should be disciplined formally for that, so definitely formalise the situation in writing.

As regards what your employer now knows, that you are in the early phase of pg, you may choose to formalise it with your manager, albeit it wasn't your chosen plan, and you would have preferred to have controlled that information.

The benefit is that your employer now knows you are pg, so you have protections in law as pg is a protected characteristic. Had you not said anything yet, and had they forced you to do something at work that might have put you and your baby at risk, they could claim that they didn't know, but that isn't now the case. They now need to do a risk assessment, depending on whether there's anything in your job that increases risk, eg carrying heavy boxes.

Are you sure the pharmacist told the cleaner and she didn't just overhear your conversation?

No one was in the pharmacy when I went into get my prescription filled.
I think from the pharmacy it’s accidentally come out in chat but it’s not the point.
Plus I’m 9 weeks and I’m so sick I’m not sure I can ever be bothered to do much I was just wondering if I choose to then I know what I can do.
Thanks for your help everyone

"I think from the pharmacy it’s accidentally come out in chat but it’s not the point."

It really is the point. The "massive breach" you referred to in your OP was the pharmacist. Imagine someone working in Boots doing that, in the course of 'chat', telling a third party that a customer who'd been in for prescribed medication was pregnant. That would be gross misconduct and is an extremely serious thing for someone in that position. Far more serious than one work colleague mentioning to another work colleague. They shouldn't have done that, but the breach of your personal data was the pharmacist.