NHS trust apologises for sending trans woman’s health records to the wrong person
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Folders containing patient records are pictured in a General Practitioners surgery on December 4, 2014 in London, England. Ahead of next years general election, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has said he will put an extra ?2bn into frontline health services across the UK, ahead of a plan drawn up by NHS bosses calling for an extra ?8bn a year by 2020. In England, everyone would be able to see a GP seven days a week by 2020. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
An NHS trust has issued an apology for sending medical records of a trans woman to the wrong person.
The Imperial College Trust in London apologised for sending the records relating to a trans woman’s gender reassignment surgery to the wrong person.
The trust says that the records relating to Sarah Preece were placed in the wrong file.
Ms Preece says she learned of the mistake when the other patient contacted her directly to say that she had received hr files.
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Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the woman said she had been given Ms Preece’s name and address and information about her gender reassignment surgery.
The files also contained information saying: “That you may have changed gender” and that “you were unhappy with your treatment and the fact that you had concerns about confidentiality.”
Ms Preece says she is unsure whether her files were sent to any other patients, and has concerns about the way the situation has been handled.
She said that the trust learned of the error a month before she was notified.
“What is so concerning is that I found out from a woman who had used contact details on my medical files in order to let me know,” said Ms Preece.
She added: “I have no idea how many people may now have my files.
“For all I know it could have ended up with anyone.
“They could have been uploaded online or if they’d gone to someone transphobic then it could have led to harassment or worse.”
Ms Preece says she decided to speak out because she hoped it would prevent further leaks from happening.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Folders containing patient records are pictured in a General Practitioners surgery on December 4, 2014 in London, England. Ahead of next years general election, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has said he will put an extra ?2bn into frontline health services across the UK, ahead of a plan drawn up by NHS bosses calling for an extra ?8bn a year by 2020. In England, everyone would be able to see a GP seven days a week by 2020. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: “The Trust takes the protection of patients’ confidentiality extremely seriously.
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“We have investigated this incident fully and recognise the errors made by the Trust. We are deeply sorry for the mistakes made and the distress caused.
“We are committed to ensuring an incident of this kind does not happen again and additional checks have been put in place to avoid any reoccurrence.”
