A press release from the government of Hong Kong issued yesterday:
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement today (March 2) regarding a suspected theft of reprinted patient records:
A doctor of the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) made report to the UCH management that she suspected a box of reprinted A&E patient records, stored in the A&E doctors’ office was stolen on Tuesday (February 28). The reprinted A&E patient records were used for medical analysis and research purposes and involved approximately 600 psychiatric patients who had attended UCH A&E previously. The records contained patient personal data and treatment records.
UCH has activated contingency measure immediately including conducting a thorough search within the A&E doctors’ office, viewing CCTV tapes and checking office entry records to confirm whether the reprinted records were removed by any unauthorised person. The hospital management is very concerned about the case as the entrance of the doctors’ office was locked securely by access control system and password access lock. The case was reported to the police for further investigation today.
UCH patient relations office has started to inform all patients concerned and to tender all necessary assistance. UCH has reported the incident to Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advanced Incidents Reporting System.
All documents lost in this incident were photocopies of patient record which will not affect patients’ treatment and hospital service.
Security patrol to high risk area has been enhanced and the policy of storing patient record in office will be completely reviewed. The management has also reminded staff the regulations in protecting patient privacy should strictly be complied. All unused patient information should be destroyed immediately.
Ends/Friday, March 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:06