NHS Orkney confirms accidental destruction of medical records

NHS Orkney have confirmed that hundreds of sets of their mental health patient notes have been shredded by accident.

NHS Orkney Chief Executive Cathie Cowan has said a total of 373 sets of notes shredded by a mistake caused by “human error.”

Ms Cowan has said the patients affected have been informed and apologised to. She also gave assurances that there has been no breach in patient confidentiality and hospital medical notes and GP notes have not been affected.

She said the notes concerned relate to community mental health nursing and psychology.

She said: “I regret to confirm that community mental health patient notes held by NHS Orkney have been shredded in error.

“These records had been packaged up to be scanned as part of our digital medical records project. There has been no breach in patient confidentiality and notes at all times have been appropriately stored and secured.”