Police to investigate patient confidentiality breach

Police have been called in to investigate a breach of patient confidentiality at NHS Orkney.

The local health authority also say their own investigation is continuing after confidential patient information was found by a member of the public on a pavement near Balfour Hospital on Tuesday, July 15.

However, it has not been established why the handover notes, which included the names of seven patients and details of their conditions and treatment, were taken outside the hospital.

NHS Orkney chief executive Cathie Cowan said: “It is not clear from our inquiries how this handover sheet came to be found outside the hospital, and whether any criminality was involved, and so the matter was referred to the police.

“Our investigations are also continuing and, in the meantime, all medical staff have been reminded of the need to ensure patient details are handled sensitively.”