HSE ‘spied on ambulance staff’

The HSE has been accused of spying on its ambulance staff for at least five years after it emerged that internal phone calls between paramedics are recorded — with some files later used in disciplinary cases.

The data protection breach, which is with Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes and which the HSE described as “unacceptable”, is now the subject of an independent review set up by health service bosses.

Details revealed yesterday show that, since 2009, all ambulance personnel have effectively been under surveillance while using work phones.

As in other countries, it is standard ambulance sector practice for phone calls from the public seeking help to be recorded so that potential life-saving information can be re-checked.

The recordings can also help in the event of a later inquest or court case.

However, the recording of internal phone calls made by employees to each other is strictly prohibited under data protection rules.

Concerns raised by paramedics over the revelations are that private complaints made to union representatives are in fact being recorded by management, and that potential leaks to the media on matters of public importance are being secretly tracked.

The HSE has suggested the problem may have occurred due to the way in which one of its two national call centres — Ballyshannon Ambulance Centre in Co Donegal — was set up to look after the entire country in 2009.

It said that due to a “configuration” issue, all calls instead of just those from the public were recorded without the permission or knowledge of individuals involved.

However, despite opening an independent review into the potential scandal and insisting steps have already been taken to address the matter, ambulance workers said the revelation effectively means they have been spied on by bosses for half a decade.

Speaking at the organisation’s annual delegate conference in Tullow, Co Carlow, National Ambulance Service Representative Association chair, Michael Dixon, said the HSE has questions to answer.

“This would represent a serious breach of the rights and privacy of ambulance personnel across the country and must be fully investigated by the HSE. There is also a clear role for the Data Protection Commissioner to fully examine the implications of this practice.

“The issues here are confidentiality and have we been spied on. I find it mind-boggling myself, because from what I understand there has been disciplinary action taken by management as a result of some of the records,” he said.

The HSE has declined to name the independent expert who is overseeing the review on its behalf, or whether the individual has any previous connection with the organisation.

A HSE spokesman said: “The HSE is obliged to ensure all calls into and out of ambulance control rooms are recorded. It is unacceptable that any calls other than those into and out of ambulance control rooms would be recorded.”