I support fully what Anne has explained.
Hospitals face a constant judgement of being helpful to both public and
patients yet not divulge too much information that may potentially put
the patient at risk or the hospital in breach of that patients rights.
It is never an easy balance and there will always exist a tension
between the two - that is why it comes down to each hospital to find
that acceptable balance - and yes, even the patient or patients family
if the patient is unable to, have a certain responsibility to tell staff
if there are any particular concerns or wishes regarding that's patient
information that they would like the hospital to consider (if it is
within the realms of reasonableness or for a special reason that may
involve legal or protective reasoning).
I hasten to add that the 'patient information' I mention above is not
about the confidential patient information that is held in a person's
medical files. That type of information is strictly governed by
particular laws and regulations to ensure it's security - even from
other members of the clinical staff.
kind regards
Karen
Karen Waite
Corporate Records Manager
Cornwall IT Services (CITS)
Megashed
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Truro. Cornwall. TR1 3LJ
Ph: 01872 254500
Fax: 01872 254508
email: [log in to unmask]
>>> Anne Gadsden <[log in to unmask]> 04/10/2006 14:16
>>>
the need for patient confidentiality has been balanced with the human
need for people to keep in touch with each other, particularly at
times
of crisis e.g. illness. The tiny risk of breach of confidentiality
here
is balanced by considering that you would have had to know which
hospital to approach and patient's name. Ok, you might be a nosey
neighbour having seen someone going off in an ambulance, but once you
were through to the Ward you wouldn't have been given any information
about the patient unless they had authorised release of information to
you.
The alternative is not to give out any information at all, which would
make things very difficult for even patient's relatives - and have you
considered the nightmare of what might happen when patients are
shifted
round wards/hospitals and staff have forgotten to inform the nearest
and
dearest? If that did happen (and it's not uncommon), even your wife
wouldn't be able to find you again!
Anne
Anne Gadsden AHRIM
Information Governance Officer
Information Services Department
North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Cumberland Infirmary
Carlisle CA2 7HY
01228 814539 (direct line)
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>> Nick Landau <[log in to unmask]> 04/10/2006 01:34 >>>
A family friend has recently gone in to hospital and my father rang up
the
hospital to find out which ward she was in because he wanted to visit
her.
He was put through to the Hospital reception and they told her which
ward
she was in.
I am rather surprised that anyone in this way can identify whether a
particular patient is in a specific hospital and where they are to be
found.
I have worked in the NHS but not in an Acute Trust.
Nick Landau
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