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Care Opinion

Patient confidentiality

Posted By circinusmk37

"Patient confidentiality"

About: Perth Children's Hospital / Paediatric Rehabilitation - Outpatient Clinic B

(as a parent/guardian),

While waiting in the second waiting room for our child to be seen in the Paediatric Rehab clinic, a psychologist (or possibly social worker) began an interview with the parent of another patient (the adolescent patient was not present at the time, I believe being in another room with a physio).  

They began to talk about private family and school-related problems the adolescent patient was having, and this was in front of several other patients and their families in the waiting room, which was very quiet and I believe we could all hear everything being said, which I felt was unprofessional and uncomfortable.

When the patient returned to the waiting room they stopped and moved to a more private room, but I feel that this clinic should ensure that private conversations happen in private.

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Responses

Response from Anna Gubbay, Consultant, Consultant, Paediatric Rehabilitation, Perth Children’s Hospital | Child and Adolescent Health Service 3 years ago
Anna Gubbay
Consultant, Consultant, Paediatric Rehabilitation,
Perth Children’s Hospital | Child and Adolescent Health Service

Submitted on 2/03/2021 at 1:56 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:56 PM

Dear circinusmk37,

Thank you for bringing this important feedback to our attention. Waiting room conversations that are of a confidential nature are never appropriate and it is regrettable that this situation occurred.

I have discussed and reflected upon the incident with the team who agree that additional care is needed to ensure such conversations are always held in a private setting. Our team members are part of a busy multidisciplinary collaborative clinic. Due to pressure on clinic room availability, they do at times need to communicate with families in the waiting areas (e.g. for completing tracking questionnaires, school teacher liaison check-ins), however, it is clear that any conversations of a personal or sensitive nature should only take place within a private setting.

I apologise that this incident made you feel uncomfortable. I am grateful for the feedback as it helps our department continue to improve in its quest for providing excellent care in a respectful patient-focused manner.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Anna Gubbay

Consultant, Paediatric Rehabilitation

Perth Children’s Hospital | Child and Adolescent Health Service

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