THE DATA PROTECTION COMMISSIONER BILLY HAWKES AND THE HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE ARE TO BE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THE DISCOVERY OF PRIVATE MEDICAL RECORDS OF A NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN A REFUSE BIN OUTSIDE ROSCOMMON HOSPITAL.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS THE RECORDS ARE OF PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED TREATMENT AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL IN MULLINGAR.

THE ROSCOMMON HOSPITAL ACTION COMMITTEE SAY THAT THE RECORDS WERE DISCOVERED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND SAY THE INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS OVER THE LACK OF A PROPER TRANSFER SYSTEM BETWEEN HOSPITALS FOR CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL RECORDS.

IN A STATEMENT THIS MORNING THE HSE SAYS THAT IT HAS VERY CLEAR POLICIES IN PLACE FOR THE DISPOSAL OF CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS AND TAKES ANY POTENTIAL BREACH OF THESE POLICIES EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.

THE STATEMENT SAYS THAT THE HSE HAS ESTABLISHED AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO CLAIMS THAT CONFIDENTIAL PATIENT INFORMATION WAS DISPOSED OF INAPPROPRIATELY AT ROSCOMMON COUNTY HOSPITAL