**AUGUST 17, 2011**
THE MEDICAL RECORDS OF A NUMBER PATIENTS WHO ATTENDED ST JOSEPH’S
DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN BALLINA, HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY A LITTER WARDEN
IN A BIN AT A LOCAL HOUSING ESTATE.
THE HSE WEST HAS CONFIRMED TO MIDWEST RADIO NEWS THAT AN INVESTIGATION
IS UNDERWAY; AND THAT THE DATA PROTECTION COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN
CONTACTED AND WILL LOOK INTO THE MATTER.
IN THEIR STATEMENT, THE HSE WEST SAY THE MEDICAL NOTES WERE ‘DISCARDED
INAPPROPRIATELY’ AND RETURNED BY THE LITTER WARDEN TO THE HOSPITAL.
THEY HAVE WRITTEN TO THOSE AFFECTED TO APOLOGISE FOR THE UPSET CAUSED,
AND ARE ASKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH CONCERNS TO CONTACT THEM.
THE HSE WEST HAS CONFIRMED THAT HANDWRITTEN NOTES, RELATING TO A
NUMBER OF PATIENTS OF ST JOSEPH’S DISTRICT HOSPITAL, WHICH WERE PUT
TOGETHER BY MEDICAL STAFF PREPARING A HANDOVER BETWEEN SHIFTS, WERE
DISCOVERED BY A LITTER WARDEN.
THOSE AFFECTED – AND IN CASES, WHERE THE FORMER PATIENTS HAD PASSED
AWAY, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS - WERE CONTACTED IN RECENT DAYS BY
OFFICIALS AT THE HOSPITAL WHO EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND
APOLOGISED.
IT’S UNDERSTOOD THE HOSPITAL AND THE HSE WEST HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO
UPDATE THEM IN THREE WEEKS TIME.
COUNCILLOR MICHAEL KILCOYNE, WHO WAS CONTACTED BY A NUMBER OF PATIENTS
AND FAMILIES, HAS HIT OUT AT THE HSE, AND CALLED FOR A PUBLIC INQUIRY
BY THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH DR JAMES REILLY.
HE SAID THIS INCIDENT – WHICH FOLLOWS LAST WEEK’S CASE OF MEDICAL
RECORDS BEING FOUND DUMPED IN A BIN OUTSIDE ROSCOMMON COUNTY HOSPITAL
– RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT PRACTICES WITHIN THE HSE.

ST JOSEPH’S DISTRICT HOSPITAL, BALLINA, HAS ALSO ISSUED A CONTACT
PHONE NUMBER FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED. THAT’S 096 21166.