The case of patient’s records from Ballina District Hospital being found in a bin in the town centre has caught the attention of one and all. It has been reported that after the notes were found in a refuse sack in Ballina in Co Mayo, they were immediately returned to the hospital.

Though the shocking incident has questioned the safety of patient’s information in the hospital, the Health Service Executive has claimed that the records had minimal information.

The lost record is said to have daily list of patients at the hospital in addition to some notes taken by staff members to assist in the process of handover between shifts. Although, a family member of one affected patient had claimed that the records had the name and medical condition of the person who attended the hospital.

However, admitting the laxity of the department, the HSE had sent a written apology to the affected patients.

With the revelation of the case, the HSE and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner launched a thorough investigation in the case, so that the actual loopholes in the system are being picked and henceforth, addressed with utmost attention.