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"Breach of privacy - feel completely ignored"

About: Maroondah Hospital

(as a relative),

Here goes;

My parent was a patient at Maroondah Hospital and also at a local clinic, significant issues occurred in delayed diagnosis, ignored patient symptoms for months. However my parent was taken to Maroondah Hospital and subsequently diagnosed with a brain tumour. A Dr _____ who I believe works at the local clinic, also works at Eastern Health. I believe they accessed my parent's patient file, whom the Dr has never meet or dealt with, on two specific dates.

I have put this complaint into Eastern Health and have had only 2 communications regarding this advising it is "still being investigated and a response will be provided to you as soon as possible". I have sent multiple emails and left multiple messages in the mean time to no avail. In my opinion, this is some serious misconduct when personal information is accessed, used and disclosed without authority. I feel this doctor so happily accessed this information even after being asked not to on the first occasion. Yet to access it again and try and smooth over their apparent misconduct and seemingly misuse of power I feel is disgusting. Yet here we are almost 12 months later and Eastern Health are not even interested in what I believe to be the illegal and appalling behaviour of their staff.

I feel zero trust!


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Responses

Response from David Plunkett, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 14 months ago
David Plunkett
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health
Submitted on 14/02/2023 at 4:29 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:29 PM


picture of David Plunkett

Dear reticulumcw39,

We are sorry to hear that you and your parent had this experience at Maroondah Hospital, and for the distress and frustration this situation has caused. Please be assured that we take all feedback seriously, so apologise if you did not feel this way.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention as if a breach of privacy had occurred, we would be very keen to rectify that immediately.

Allegations of a privacy breach have a thorough internal investigation that allows appropriate action to be taken to address any confirmed breaches and identify any further opportunities to prevent future breaches.

I have been in contact with our Centre for Patient Experience team about your feedback and have been assured that they will continue to work with you on the resolution of this matter.

Kind Regards,

David

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Update posted by reticulumcw39 (a relative)

Hi David,

I believe a breach of privacy has 100% occurred, my parent feels victimised and abused by the seemingly frivolous behaviour of the doctor in question and also the response (lack of) from Maroondah/EH regarding our complaint. I believe what that doctor did was against the law, I recall they did it twice! Each time being asked to immediately cease accessing the files of an individual whom it seems to me they had nothing to do with.

I feel Eastern Health didn’t take this matter seriously at all, called me yesterday and it seemed they said it’s not that big of a deal. To you guys maybe but to my parent they have no trust, feels taken advantage of and still has no answers.

Is it too much to ask for some common decency at the bare minimum, let alone having your staff actually follow the 1988 Privacy Act, which I believe they have not?

Response from David Plunkett, Chief Executive, Eastern Health 14 months ago
David Plunkett
Chief Executive,
Eastern Health
Submitted on 17/02/2023 at 4:02 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 4:15 PM


picture of David Plunkett

Dear reticulumcw39

Thank you for your further comments.

I am sorry that you felt this matter wasn't taken seriously. I can provide my assurance to you that maintaining privacy is taken very seriously by leaders across Eastern Health, including myself.

I understand you have now received our response regarding this matter.

Kind regards

David

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