IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR ALL STAFF - Accessing patient records

We have seen an increase in staff accessing patient records when they do not have a reason to do so.  

Patient records are confidential. To access a patient record, you must be part of the team which is providing care. This may mean you are involved clinically or you may be involved from an admin point of view.  Please remember:    

• Staff should never access the patient records of friends, relatives or anyone else unless you are involved in their care.  
• Staff should never access their own patient record.    

Once a patient is no longer in our care, staff MUST NOT access their records unless there is a valid reason why.  If you do, it is against Trust policy.  It may mean disciplinary action for the member of staff concerned. It may also involve the police or legal action. In the last 12 months, we have had 8 disciplinary investigations because of this.  

Our electronic systems track who has logged on. This includes the user ID, date, time and location. We can also tell what people look at in patient records. This is so that we can protect confidential patient records.  It also means we can hold people to account if they go against our Trust policy. Please make sure you follow our Trust policy at all times (click here).    

Thank you #TeamSTSFT