NHS trust issues apology for Covid trial data breach

The Midlands Partnership NHS Trust shared the email addresses of a number of people taking part in a regional Covid vaccine trial, sending an email to recipients who could all see each other’s addresses.

 

The trust said it had investigated the incident and concluded it was down to human error.

 

The case has been reported to data protection watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

 

The data breach occurred last month when a member of the trust’s administration team emailed people taking part in the trial, using the ‘carbon copy’ field instead of ‘blind carbon copy’ to anonymise the recipients.

 

The trust attempted to recall the email, but in a letter sent to recipients admitted it could not be sure no one had opened the email.

 

A spokesperson for the trust said it sent its sincerest apologies for the error and the ICO had accepted the actions they took.

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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