Data protection, patient details and you

December 17, 2020

There has been a concerning increase in the number of reported incidents where colleagues are inappropriately accessing patient records, which includes records of other colleagues, their relatives and their friends.

How we maintain security of patient data is an extremely serious matter.

Incidents such as these are routinely addressed via a conduct investigation and disciplinary process as breaches of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act.

If current patients or individuals outside the Trust are interested in their medical records – for things such as their time of birth, information about past treatments, scans and results they should make their request via our Governance Support Unit. This has to be done via them as it is the beginning of a legal process.

Requests can be made to swb-tr.SWBHRecordsRequests@nhs.net  or in writing to Governance Support Unit, Trinity House (Ground Floor) Sandwell General Hospital, Lyndon, West Bromwich B71 4HJ.

To follow up a case please call 0121 507 5836  – lines are open Monday – Friday,  10am – 4pm

Breaching of data protection can not only lead to potential action that affects your job (i.e. dismissal or referral to professional bodies) it could also lead to legal action via civil prosecution.