Patient confidentiality breach - dilemma

milliemonster

Sorry if this is not the most appropriate place for this but as it's work related I though it was best posted here.

I have a dilemma and not sure if I am overreacting and need some objective eyes over this.

I am nurse and along with my colleagues like many others chat on facebook, now we are very aware of the rules around information governance and never discuss patients on there at all, however, I have just come across a photo posted by a colleague that I think breaches patient confidentality, it was taken of another nurse at work on their leaving date, playing up to the camera but in the background you can clearly see the cardiac monitors on the nurses station with patient monitoring displayed although you can't make out any patient details, but more worryingly, the whiteboard behind with all the patient names on and which bed they are in, now you can't make out the names initially from the photo, but if you zoom in on the photo the names become clearer. Am I being petty? I'm not sure whether I should report this to our line manager or whether I should leave it, my conscience is telling me I should report it but I'm not sure whether I am overreacting or not.

The NHS are now very strict on data protection and anything that displays patient data inappropriately is classed as a breach so what do you think? Should I just have a quiet word with the person who posted the pic (they are an unqualified member of staff) and let them know they need to remove it, should I let it go, or should I speak to my boss?

nearlyrich

Why snitch to the boss and make a big issue of this when you can have a quiet word?

scheming_gypsy

Like nearlyrich said... why go grassing when they probably haven't realised you can see everything, when you can have a quiet word with them about what would happen if the wrong people saw it.

Dizzy_Ditzy

i agree with the above- just a quiet word will suffice- going to management isnt going to do you any favours

bobajob_1966

nearlyrich wrote: »

Why snitch to the boss and make a big issue of this when you can have a quiet word?

Because this is a far wider reaching issue than something that would warrant a quiet word?

milliemonster, you have a professional obligation to report this, whether this does you any favours or not is irrelevant. It is up to your managers as to whether the requires a request to remove it or more serious action (perhaps a general reminder to everyone about what they are posting on the internet?).

anamenottaken

milliemonster wrote: »

Sorry if this is not the most appropriate place for this but as it's work related I though it was best posted here.

I have a dilemma and not sure if I am overreacting and need some objective eyes over this.

I am nurse and along with my colleagues like many others chat on facebook, now we are very aware of the rules around information governance and never discuss patients on there at all, however, I have just come across a photo posted by a colleague that I think breaches patient confidentality, it was taken of another nurse at work on their leaving date, playing up to the camera but in the background you can clearly see the cardiac monitors on the nurses station with patient monitoring displayed although you can't make out any patient details, but more worryingly, the whiteboard behind with all the patient names on and which bed they are in, now you can't make out the names initially from the photo, but if you zoom in on the photo the names become clearer. Am I being petty? I'm not sure whether I should report this to our line manager or whether I should leave it, my conscience is telling me I should report it but I'm not sure whether I am overreacting or not.

The NHS are now very strict on data protection and anything that displays patient data inappropriately is classed as a breach so what do you think? Should I just have a quiet word with the person who posted the pic (they are an unqualified member of staff) and let them know they need to remove it, should I let it go, or should I speak to my boss?

What is the procedure in your organisation for reporting breaches? Follow it.

TeaCake

If it was me, I would have a quiet word with the person who posted the picture and tell them in my mind it breaches the rules and ask them to remove it.
I dont think your being petty, if you dont feel right about the picture then it probably isn't correct, an unqualified member of staff might be unaware of the ins and outs of the data protection act (especially with users being able to zoom in on names and bed numbers). If they don't remove it or upload a similar picture in the future then maybe a word in the bosses ear on some education might be in order.

skintandscared_2

Just have a quiet word with the person who posted the pic and ask them to remove it or crop it. They probably haven't even realised! Why would you want to get someone into trouble when you probably don't need to?!!

bobajob_1966

TeaCake wrote: »

If it was me, I would have a quiet word with the person who posted the picture and tell them in my mind it breaches the rules and ask them to remove it.
I dont think your being petty, if you dont feel right about the picture then it probably isn't correct, an unqualified member of staff might be aware of the ins and outs of the data protection act (especially with users being able to zoom in on names and bed numbers). If they don't remove it or upload a similar picture then maybe a word in the bosses ear on some education might be in order.

All NHS employees have data protection/ confidentiality training. If they are not aware or do not understand what this entails, they need refresher training.

proactive

i'd go with the quiet word. mistakes will always happen.

scheming_gypsy

Not sure if it would matter, but where is the whiteboard? is it in full visibility of visitors to the ward or in a separate office? Just wondering if it'd be a breach of confidentiality if it's on full view to anybody who goes on to the ward.