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AN INVESTIGATION HAS been launched after personal medical files were found dumped in a Co Donegal park.
The large file was found dumped close to bushes at Bernard McGlinchey Park close to Letterkenny University Hospital.
A family out walking came across the files which contains sensitive medical history on an elderly woman from the Convoy area.
As well as letters to the woman’s GP, the file contains parts of her medical history.
How the file ended up dumped in the park is not yet known.
Local county councillor Gerry McMonagle, who is a member of the Northwest Regional Health Forum has demanded a full investigation.
He told Donegal Daily: “A full investigation into how this woman’s file ended up in a public park for anyone to find has to be carried out.
“The hospital and the health board has to find out where this file was stored and how it came to be in a public place apparently dumped.”
And councillor McGonagle said the HSE must also investigate if other patients’ files are missing.
“How do we know that there are not a lot of other files missing. A full check-list of all files will now have to be carried out,” he said.
“I want to know what security measures are in place to secure these files and how come that security was seemingly breached on this occasion.”
The woman who found the files while out playing with her children said she was horrified that somebody’s full medical history was simply dumped in a public park.
“I wasn’t sure what it was first when the children pointed to it. I had a quick look at it and I was shocked that it was a medical file with all this woman’s medical history in it,” she said.
“I don’t know how it happened but somebody needs to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I would be horrified to think my mother’s private hospital records were left in a public park.”
The full file has since been handed back to staff at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Saolta, the communications Department of Letterkenny University Hospital, is aware of the breach.
A spokesperson for Saolta said: “Letterkenny University Hospital will be fully investigating this incident to establish how it occurred.”
The Data Protection Commission has been contacted for comment.
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I dont see the problem, the landlords own the property, the tenants sign a contract, break the contract and you risk being evicted.
Idiot tenants breaching their leases by subletting.
You’re right – they did break the law so they should face consequences.
Still maybe the legislation needs changing. As long as the property is maintained and the landlord gets his rent what’s the problem. I know it’s a real struggle for many in SF to pay the sky high rentals.
Also it would provide real value to tourists arriving in SF.
At least the landlords stateside can actually do something about their tenants flouting the terms of the lease … Here they would have to deal with the ridiculous PRTB … Wait months to get a hearing and more than likely receive no rent in the meantime …. And the the PRTB finding in favour of the tenant as the land lord forgot to cross a ‘t’ on one of the forms.
I don’t see why landlords should have a problem with this as long as their rent is being paid and no damage is being done to the property.
Tenants have no right to sub-let and thereby profit from a service that is not theres to provide.
Because a landlord presumably is happy with the tenants they let to. They have no control over who the tenant sub lets to.
Extra wear and tear
That could all be added in as terms and conditions. Wear and tear, insuring the room etc. let the landlord get his piece of the pie – after all it’s all about the money – it’s not some morality.
A friend lives in San Fran with his missus, 2 years ago he rented another 1 bed just so he could let it out on AirBnb.
He charges $125 a night and is fully booked 365 nights a year, it’s like a full time job for him, he even hires a cleaner.
I know in Dublin there are hundreds of people sub letting illegally on AirBnb, why the hell not if it helps pays the scandalous rent, AirBnb cover damages for guests so landlords should have no problem.
I assume that your friend is making considerably more from AirBnB than he pays in rent for the apartment. You don’t mention whether the landlord is aware, but judging by you opinion of illegal subletting in Dublin, I’m guessing they’re not.
I think scandalously high rents are greedy and unethical, but if the landlord is charging close to the going rate and is fair and decent towards the tenant then it is equally unethical to sublet illegally. Typically the landlord has made a significant financial investment in buying the property and decorating and furnishing it to a reasonable standard. They need the rent to recoup their costs and then make enough profit to make the venture worth their effort. If there is a way of making more profit from their property then that is their opportunity to take advantage of, not their tenant’s.
I don’t know a lot about business but in my layman’s opinion if the landlord has any financial sense they should “evict” your friend (their tenant) and make it available on AirBnB themselves. If they don’t want to do the work of dealing with new AirBnB tenants every day they should demand a considerable percentage profit from your friend or employ him to manage it.
Well said donal…. exactly my toughts…
I read that in an Ali G voice….reconize!
Lol!
I don’t see the problem here at all. If you don’t own the property, you have no business putting rooms in said property up for rent. If I did that, and was caught out by the landlord, I’d fully expect to be evicted.
My tenant should be thankful that at least I gave her 3 weeks to vacate my property after I found out she was hosting people from Airbnb. Thankfully, my neighbor called me and told me that on numerous occasions, people were staying at my house. In fact, on one weekend, there was a wedding. My daughter found my house listed on Airbnb and I took action. How dare she rent my house without my permission. I work hard for that house and it will be my retirement home in a few years. I want to know, am I entitled to the profits she made off of MY home? Oh, and she thinks she is getting her security deposit back which I am looking into.
have your say