As a housing organisation, we use numerous contractors within our numerous
homes that are occupied by a variety of tenants. As such, can you advise
from a DP point of view on what we are required to inform our contractors
regarding potential infectious/non infectious diseases that a tenant has
contacted.
An incident has happened where a contractor was sent to a property occupied
by a tenant who has TB. The contractor was not informed of this and entered
the property with knowing about this 'diseased' tenant. Whilst within the
property he (the contractor) was informed by the tenants care worker of the
fact that the tenant has TB.
Now the $££&$"$%^ has hit the fan as the contractor is arguing the fact
that he was not told and therefore not prepared. He may end up trying to
sue us.
The fact of the matter is that if the TB is of a virulent strain, then
surely the doctors concerned would not allow the tenant to live in a
property where he/she will come in contact with the every day public. So
has the contractors got anything to worry about?
I did inform those concerned that the contractor (working on behalf of the
organisation) should have been informed of the situation as it was in his
best interest to know and as such the choice would have been his as to
whether to attend or not.
I am not only concerned with confidentiality issues surrounding this event;
I am also concerned with the protection of those agents deployed by the
organisation, as well as other members of staff. In my mind the contractors
should have been informed and so should all staff on a need to know basis
only.
Help please! A speedy response will be extremely helpful.
(This is a new situation for us to find ourselves in and we don't have a
procedure for passing on this type of sensitive information to third
parties (certainly not without the consent of the individual in any case).
This will also have implications for the Trust's current Confidentiality
policy.)
Thanks
Clementine Amawo
Information Management Officer (IT)
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