Concern as taxis used to transport patient notes and specimens at Derriford Hospital
HOSPITAL bosses have stepped in after concerns were raised over taxis being used to convey patient notes and specimens.
Derriford Hospital has carried out an investigation after confidentiality concerns were voiced by a governor.
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Concern as taxis used to transport patient notes and specimens at Derriford Hospital
Vera Mitchell told a Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust Board meeting how she was worried about the security and confidentiality of the notes.
She said that, arriving by taxi, they were sometimes conveyed in insecure containers and deposited at the porters' lodge.
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The Trust, which runs Derriford, said "immediate actions" had been taken to ensure patient confidentially was not breached.
Mrs Mitchell said she had been aware of delays in conveying the notes to the designated secure room – and suggested there had been a potential to breach patient confidentiality.
She was seeking assurances that the matter would be investigated.
"I raised the issue because I did have concerns," Mrs Mitchell said.
"I wanted to make sure that the potential for a patient confidentiality breach was removed."
Ann James, chief executive at the Trust, said immediate action had been taken.
That included ensuring boxes used to contain notes were now secured, notes were never left unattended at the porters' lodge, and that they were also receipted to allow for tracking.
In February's board meeting report, Ms James said: "Following an issue of concern raised by a public question at the meeting, immediate action was taken to safeguard security of notes delivered to the hospital.
"Since the last board meeting, dedicated and expert programme lead support has been brought in to progress this important area of work."
The issue surrounding patient notes was brought to the attention of the Trust's medical director Alex Mayor, as well as its Caldicott Guardian, a senior member of staff appointed specifically to protect patient information.
Nick Thomas, director of planning and site services, said: "Notes collected and delivered by taxi are on a scheduled and contracted service and as such, controls are in place to ensure that procedures with regard to patient confidentiality are adhered to at all times.
"A review of the movement of patient notes to and from the Derriford site has recently been carried out and some immediate actions have already been put in place.
"Notes are securely sealed and a receipt is issued for all notes both collected and dropped by taxi to ensure that they are never left unattended.
"This review is ongoing and we will continue to work hard to ensure the security of all of our patient information."
Mrs Mitchell said she was now satisfied that patient notes were secure and had been assured no breach took place.
23 Comments
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by JeremyBadger
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:59PM
“paul2013, Lt Commander my a$$, with your writing skills I would imagine that you are really a Romanian Gypsy in drag!”
by sasquatch1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:44PM
“Actually billshutting not all drivers have crb checks,those from abroad cannot have them,they just need a note from the local dodgy plod,though im sure they are absolutely fine.”
by billshutting
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:08PM
“paul2013, Lt Commander my a*s with those writing skills, if you are this country really has gone to the dogs. All taxi drivers are vetted undergoing CRB checks and having to disclose any criminal offences on their record to their relevant council before being given a licence. The only reason i can think of for you posting such drivel is that you must have a massive hatred of taxi drivers, tell the truth, your not a Lt Commander your a BUS DRIVER !!!”
by paulyd28
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 5:22PM
“I work for a taxi company that has done this for years and with zero problems, another case of someone just trying to find problems that don't exist. Now whats going to happen is they will have to employ more people and buy vehicles for the task at way more cost than before putting an even heavier burden on NHS funds, brilliant.”
by paul2013
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:55PM
“I am a Lt Commander and have sat and read this story and I am totally disgusted with the way this trust deals with our medical notes. How the hell can you the board and you the Chief Executive sit back and allow this to happen ! You are allowing realisically the general public to have access to the tax payers medical records, I doubt very much and of these taxi drivers have been vetter neither have they been fully data protection trained and neither have they had to sign a non-disclosure agreement which would help in protecting the public from information being leaked. I have just had the pleasure of doing an internet search on Derriford hospital and leaked information, to my shock and horror they were fined not to long ago and the victim was awarded a large sum of compensation due to negligence which lead to a patients notes being disclosed. This should not of happened and it should never happen again ! May i suggest that you employ a company that specialises in this sector to deal with the logistics of your files and to have them properly managed. This is something that my local hospital brought into place when I was based up north.
Please do not disregard this message, it is our money that you will waste when you have to pay fines and compensation out. The wasted money needs to be and has to be spent of patient care and paying hard worked and under paid nurses.
WAKE UP PLEASE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND DO THE CORRECT THING AND STOP WASTING MY MONEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by sufc_blues
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 3:48PM
“@j Bowen
take the first letters of the words you'll have the answer
(clue there in capitals)”
by BOREDOFPLYM1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 2:16PM
“samples - bio hazard in taxi's not appropriate”
by Cole_Brook
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:09PM
“Being going on for years..with no problem...Someone out to make a name for themselves. I was a Taxi driver for twenty years...must have carried loads..plus body parts. As usual these days..trying to make an issue over not very much.”
by intherealot
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:28PM
“I was on a ward a month or so ago visiting someone and a taxi driver dropped one set of patient notes off on the ward and he had driven from Bristol with them. He told the nurse he was going right back. And the hospital is going to cut the pay and conditions of those poor staff. Not secure transport and very expensive too. No wonder the NHS is in a state but at least the people at the top are getting a good salary and nice 9-5 hours and the taxi bosses are doing ok too.”
by technomanic
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:55AM
“Contract taxis have been used for decades. The drivers were paid a pittance for the contract once they saw any payment. In my day it was Crownhill Taxis who held the contract. The situation now must have entirely changed. No patient notes were ever transported from our department via taxis or own transport unless in the hands of a qualified nurse.
There were very strict rules who could even access the notes, let alone move them to other areas of the district for what ever purpose was needed. Only medical staff,qualified nurses and third year students could have sight of the records. Records even whilst in the department were kept under lock and key.
One has to wonder why with all the billions spent on ITC within the NHS there is any need to transport paper patient notes anywhere anymore ?
Sometimes the old ways of doing things may have been seen to be old fashioned, but there was far less risk of anything going wrong because of it.”