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HEALTH MINISTER SIMON HARRIS has said it is “extraordinarily concerning and disturbing” that a patient’s details could have been leaked after she had an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (NMH), in Dublin this week.
A number of investigations are underway into the allegations, which were first reported by TheJournal.ie yesterday. A HSE investigation into the allegations that emerged on social media is now taking place.
A message shared on Twitter alleged that the woman who had a medical abortion was later contacted by someone using a phone number linked to an ‘abortion counselling service’ that the HSE has warned against. There are concerns that the patient’s details were shared with the rogue agency.
The HSE launched its probe into the incident following a request from the minister yesterday. Speaking at an event in Dublin today, Harris said he is very concerned “that any patients details could be leaked. We have worked extremely hard as a health service and I think as a country to try and firstly legalise the termination of pregnancy in our own country, and then make sure it is a safe and normal part of the health service”. He added:
There has been huge clinical leadership to make sure that could happen, there were dates set for the introduction of services, that many said wouldn’t be met and were met thanks to the leadership of the clinical community.
The idea that anybody might leak a woman’s confidential information is reprehensible, it is grotesque, it’s disgusting and that is why I asked the HSE yesterday to investigate the matter and report back.
The alleged incident
The woman at the centre of the case sent a message to a Facebook group to warn other women about what had happened to her. That initial message was screengrabbed and shared extensively on Twitter.
It detailed how after her termination, she had an internal scan and was sent home from the hospital. She was told no other scans would be needed. According to the message, when she arrived home that day she received a call from a number unknown to her and was told by a man to re-book in for a scan.
The message says that the man who called her had her personal details such as her name and address. The number he called from is linked to an unofficial website which has a similar name to the official HSE ‘My Options’ site. It’s claimed she was told to come in for a scan, and later received a text message telling her to go to a clinic on the northside of the city.
The woman, according to the message shared on social media, said she felt something was strange, so she called the Well Woman Clinic and the hospital. They did not know anything about the phone call or the scan.
‘Disgusting’
The woman called the number back, and asked the man who he was, the message says. He said he was from ‘My Options’ but then allegedly started to shout abuse at the woman, telling her how “disgusting” she was for having a termination and asking if she knew about the risks.
The National Maternity Hospital has said it will not comment on individual cases but that it takes alleged data breaches seriously. A spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual cases. Patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us, and any suspected breach of confidentiality is always investigated as a matter of urgency in conjunction with other organisations who may have access to patient details.”
Dublin Well Woman Clinic has also confirmed to TheJournal.ie that a full data breach scan of its IT systems was performed this week. The clinic, which the patient had used prior to being referred to the hospital, said it is confident that no data in relation to any patient was leaked from its operation.
Chief executive, Alison Begas, said the matter now lies “in the hands of the HSE”. “We very much welcome the investigation,” she added.
The head of communications at the Office of the Data Protection Commission also confirmed to TheJournal.ie that it is “currently making enquiries” about the allegations. “We will be making no further comment at this time,” a spokesperson added.
It is understood that no referral has been made to gardaí about a data breach from any hospital, but that officers may be treating the incident as a ‘nuisance call’ that could be investigated.
Trusted HSE service
The Health Service Executive also advised people who a number of unplanned pregnancy agencies “may have a hidden agenda”. The HSE also issued a warning yesterday afternoon, tweeting: “For trusted unplanned pregnancy advice and information on abortion services, go to the HSE’s http://MyOptions.ie or call 1800 828 010. All official HSE ads and listings for My Options will mention the HSE, link to our site, or carry the HSE logo.” With reporting by Daragh Brophy, Michelle Hennessy and Stephen McDermott
Slight breeze in Dublin and it’s red alert. Actual storm 1 hour away from Galway and Mayo and last minute warning issued. You’d be forgiven to think that the west doesn’t matter.
@Kieran Campbell: Met Eireann have strict criteria that they follow when issuing any warnings for any location… Stop talking nonsense with your anti Dublin chip on your shoulder.
@Kieran Campbell: That is exactly what is in Dublin right now (9am), a slight breeze…
@Lar Meyler: you are joking. It scared the life out of me.
@Kieran Campbell: I totally agree with you and that lad David that replied to your comment is probably some city boy that doesn’t even know his next door neighbor never mind reading the weather forecast
@John gaughan: I say he does not whinge as much as the culchies
Follow the Midlands Weather Channel on Facebook – Cathal predicted this days ago and was surprised no warnings were being given. He’s spot on with his forecasts.
With everyone giving out about previous warnings, it’s hardly surprising that it came to back to bite. In fairness, the cinema should of stopped the movie and let those inside know there cars were about to be flooded once the water started coming up.
@Ich bin brendan: spot on. Fellas on here bleating on about warnings and snow flakes. No wonder Met Eireann didn’t issue one cause if they did and it flopped they’d be listening to it. Keyboard warriors aplenty to knock something.
@John Hayes: Nonsense – they have a warning system for a reason – if they cannot manage to do their ONE JOB they need to taken to task – w e pay enougb taxes for public services in this country to expect people to do their jobs – i honestly don’t get all these apologists – ya can’t blame them , what should they have done , it;s not that complicated – issuing an orange warning at 8pm when a storm hit a 9pm – go back and watch the met eireann forecast on the 6 news of you want to see EXACTLY what they were saying – this apologist stuff is nonsense – Irish people are far too soft on their expectations of what level of public services they should expect for the very very high taxes we pay to fund public services – Met Eireann are not beyond criticism FFS
@Dave Hammond: glad you got that off your chest Dave … nothing like a good rant. You surely have heard of the saying – it’s as unpredictable as the weather- which is what weather is UNPREDICTABLE even with technology. A warning at 8pm for 9pm is better than no warning at all in my eyes. Happy Christmas fella.
Some comments here are hilarious as per, hence why I pop in to see the usual suspects here who’d argue with their own shadow.
If there was warnings we’d have the usual that its ott and “there’s no need for warnings” and if we had a late warning/no warning it’s “where was the warning?”
Can’t win.
@Gavin Mckenna: sounds like you have a CV in with the Wet Office Gavin?!
@Gavin Mckenna: its not complicated Gavin – they have a warning system – the whole point is that a lot of people think they cannot use it correctly – and they are guilty of issuing too many yellow warnings to the point where people pay no attention anymore – imagine they had a yellow warning on yesterday – they issued an orange warning at 8pm for a storm that hit at 9 …..how on earth can you not think they need to be criticized and taken to task when they are not able to do the ONE JOB they are being funded for.
a bit late calling the Orange Warning at 9 wouldn’t you say, when it had already made landfall at 8.20pm in Galway and was already ferocious and almost at RED warnijng level!!!!
The Storm Never Bothered Me Anyway…
@Anthony Edward Healy: Came here for Frozen comments… was not disappointed.
Well, well that was some storm, no warnings, probably the worst storm in Cork since Ophelia. Met Eirean gave no warnings,this was coming, they only gave a status Orange for Cork when the storm was halfway through it looked worse than that.
A typical winter storm.Have to say life goes a lot easier when they are no warnings of storms.
Met Éireann needs a little room on this one, the weather warning was gave when it developed. The difference here is that the storm built late (Portugal only named it on Tuesday and it was not expected to be bad) , it came from an unusual source and took a big swing to the left allowing it to build. We don’t normally get big storms storms building in strength as they hit us. The ones we get warned about are massive things way out in the alantic that done look like they will reduce in strength as time and distance slows them down.
My question is were pre orange status indications and were they acted upon or observed on time.
One hour warning given at eight taking effect at nine if that was Dublin or the East coast they would be talking about it a month before
Car parks on the Seafront in Salthill regularly flood when there’s a storm. A sign to remind drvers of this would be good idea.
@Conall: plenty of those in situ, the pre warning didn’t give people a chance to cancel plans for cinema etc. Some newish hybrids still on the prom waiting to be towed.
Storm Elsewhere more like!!!
well i think they underestimated the strength in the North East, it was very severe Wednesday night, stuff blowing all over the place and very hazardous driving conditions
have your say