Woman told she had cancer by data
A UK woman discovered she had breast cancer after a hospital employee inappropriately accessed her medical records and told her over the phone. The hospital trust apologized following media intervention, highlighting ongoing concerns over NHS data breaches.
Why it matters
This incident highlights severe vulnerabilities in patient data privacy and the emotional toll of unauthorized medical record access within healthcare systems.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jen Smith South West health correspondent BBC Pippa Boardman was told she had cancer by a hospital worker, days before her scheduled appointment with a consultant A woman was told she had cancer by a hospital employee who accessed her record days before she was due to receive test results from her consultant.
Pippa Boardman, from Lostwithiel in Cornwall, said she had lost her dignity and privacy through the data breach at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. She said she did not receive an apology from the hospital until it was contacted by the BBC.
The trust said it was "truly sorry" and "appropriate action had been taken".
It added: "While we cannot disclose the details of individual employment matters, we want to reassure Ms Boardman that we have treated this extremely seriously."
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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