'Immediate investigation' launched into 'dumped' medical records

Health chiefs have today launched an investigation into claims confidential patient medical records were found dumped in a bin.

Dozens of files allegedly belonging to hundreds of patients at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar containing names, addresses and detail of sensitive medical tests were discovered outside Roscommon Hospital, 47 miles away.

The Roscommon Hospital Action Committee, which has been campaigning against the downgrading of A&E services at Roscommon, was alerted and reported the discovery to the Data Protection Commissioner.

Committee chairman John McDermott said there was no attempt to shred the documents or block out personal details before they were dumped.

“There was a variety of documents. One document would have the patient’s name and address, chart number, diagnoses, treatment,” he said.

“Some of them would have been typed and there would have been additional notes in Biro on them. And then you would have reports on things like colonoscopies, CT scans.”

Mr McDermott said the files were discovered early last week by a woman walking her dog, and she alerted him.

The committee contacted the office of Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes and planned to hand the documents over to his officials.

A spokeswoman for the Commissioner could not say whether an investigation would be carried out.

“From the reports it seems likely that there is personal data involved in them,” she said.

“

But until we see that, we can’t say whether we’ll take on an investigation until we actually confirm that there is personal data and the circumstances are such that give rise to a concern or a matter for investigation by the Commissioner.”

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said it takes any breach of policies dealing with the disposal of confidential documents extremely seriously.

“The HSE has established an immediate investigation into claims that confidential patient information was disposed of inappropriately at Roscommon County Hospital,” a statement read.

The Roscommon Hospital Action Committee has been protesting against the closure of A&E services at Roscommon and has mounted a high-profile campaign that led to a Dáil debate on cuts to services.

Local TD Denis Naughten voted against the Government’s plans and was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party as a result.