❓ A parliamentary question regarding a potential breach of patient confidentiality at the Alma Street clinic in Fremantle. The Minister was unaware of the incident and has initiated an investigation.
AnsweredQoN 357Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ALMA STREET CLINIC — PATIENT INFORMATION
357. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to an incident on Thursday, 25 July 2013, when a
document containing confidential information relating to mental health patients
was found in the street near the Alma Street clinic in Fremantle.
(1) When was the minister made aware of the incident?
(2) What information did the document contain?
(3) Was the document printed by an employee of the clinic?
(4) Has an investigation been carried out into the incident?
(5) If yes to (4), who carried out the investigation and what
was the outcome; and, if no, why not?
(6) Were the
patients whose confidentiality was breached informed of the breach; and, if
not, why not?
357. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to an incident on Thursday, 25 July 2013, when a
document containing confidential information relating to mental health patients
was found in the street near the Alma Street clinic in Fremantle.
(1) When was the minister made aware of the incident?
(2) What information did the document contain?
(3) Was the document printed by an employee of the clinic?
(4) Has an investigation been carried out into the incident?
(5) If yes to (4), who carried out the investigation and what
was the outcome; and, if no, why not?
(6) Were the
patients whose confidentiality was breached informed of the breach; and, if
not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1)–(6)
I was not aware of such an incident until I received the member's
question. I am advised that the clinical director at the Alma Street centre and
the executive director at Fremantle Hospital also have no knowledge of any such
incident. I consider this a serious matter and I strongly urge anyone who has
possession of another person's health records to return them to the
Alma Street centre immediately. An individual's medical records are
confidential and should be treated as such. The clinical director of the Alma
Street centre will be investigating this matter further as a high priority. I
welcome any information the member has or is aware of in regard to this
incident as soon as possible, so that further action can be taken.
question.
(1)–(6)
I was not aware of such an incident until I received the member's
question. I am advised that the clinical director at the Alma Street centre and
the executive director at Fremantle Hospital also have no knowledge of any such
incident. I consider this a serious matter and I strongly urge anyone who has
possession of another person's health records to return them to the
Alma Street centre immediately. An individual's medical records are
confidential and should be treated as such. The clinical director of the Alma
Street centre will be investigating this matter further as a high priority. I
welcome any information the member has or is aware of in regard to this
incident as soon as possible, so that further action can be taken.
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