Elaine Edwards reports:
The scope of a data breach involving confidential patient information is much wider than just Tallaght hospital in Dublin, the hospital’s acting chief executive has indicated.
The hospital yesterday admitted there had been “unauthorised access and disclosure” of material sent to the Philippines for transcription.
Its arrangement with Irish-based company Uscribe, which sent the material to its office in the Philippines, has been terminated and the hospital is now using another provider.
While the Health Service Executive has indicated it does not outsource such transcription services, it is understood that some consultants have entered private arrangements with the transcription company.
[…]
A Sunday newspaper has obtained patient-identifying information dating to 2008, Mr O’Connell said in the letter. “All clinicians that use Uscribe in AMNCH [Tallaght] or privately must assume that some information on patients is available to the journalist.”
Mr O’Connell’s letter to the consultants concludes: “I have briefed the clinical directors, the board of management and other relevant parties, while the scope is much larger than AMNCH; we anticipate we will receive considerable attention as a result.”
Read more on Irish Times.