Pippa Boardman from Cornwall was informed she had cancer by a hospital employee who accessed her medical records days before her scheduled consultant appointment at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. The man, known to her through sport, contacted her directly, breaching her privacy and dignity. Boardman received an official apology from the hospital only after the BBC intervened. The hospital trust stated the staff member had legitimate access to the records but was not authorised to contact patients and confirmed appropriate action was taken following an investigation.
Boardman, now recovering well from breast cancer, criticised the hospital's handling of the incident, highlighting the distress caused by the breach and the lack of transparency due to the staff member's rights being protected. The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust has reminded staff that patient records must only be accessed for legitimate work purposes and is reviewing policies in line with NHS England guidance. This case adds to recent concerns over NHS data breaches, which Health Secretary Yvette Cooper described as a disgrace.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.