Cork hospital fined €65k after patients' personal data found in public recycling facility

Cork University Maternity Hospital: A member of the public discovered documents pertaining to 78 of its patients. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has handed down a €65,000 fine to Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) after the personal data of 78 of its patients was discovered disposed of in a public recycling facility elsewhere in the county.

The complaint was first raised with the DPC in June 2019 after a member of the public, who had discovered the documents, brought the matter to the HSE’s attention.