Statement by the John O'Connell Acting Chief Executive of Tallaght Hospital Wednesday 3 August 2011
‘Tallaght Hospital has asked the Garda Síochána to assist it in determining how sensitive patient information got into inappropriate hands.
It is now evident that information has been subject to unauthorised access and disclosure. The hospital has been working closely with the National Bureau of Investigations in the Philippines and the UK Information Commissioner.
The IT Director of the hospital has been in the Philippines over the last week to assist their legal authorities. Also, I have been working closely with the Data Protection Commissioner over the last two weeks.
"The hospital had been using the transcription service Uscribe based in the Philippines but terminated this contract in May of this year. Upon taking up my position in July 2010, I instructed that the transcription service be evaluated.
‘This resulted in the hospital changing service provider and putting in place new policies and procedures. It has always been the case that all material for transcription be encrypted and this practice has always been followed.
Since 2010, it has also been the policy of the hospital that no patient identifiers should be used; regrettably, this policy has not always been followed in practice.
‘Some letters were dictated which did not come back transcribed. While it was the policy of the hospital to keep information sheets for each letter, this practice was not followed universally.
'On the termination of the contract with the dictation service, the hospital continues to ensure that all data is being returned and hospital staff have been processing uncompleted correspondence.
‘This is a very serious matter which the hospital is determined to resolve thoroughly and as quickly as possible.
‘The Board of the Hospital and the HSE have been kept informed of these issues.’
