Health Service Executive – Violation Found (Ireland, 2020)
General GDPR enforcement action
This case relates to broader data protection obligations, not specifically to cookie or consent banner compliance. It is not included in cookie statistics or the Risk Calculator.
The Health Service Executive failed to keep patient handover notes secure, leaving them in a public area. This incident highlights the importance of protecting sensitive information in healthcare settings. Although no fines were imposed, it raises concerns about privacy practices.
What happened
The Health Service Executive did not provide proper safeguards for paper patient handover notes, which were found in a public garden.
Who was affected
Patients whose handover notes were not securely disposed of were affected.
What the authority found
The Data Protection Commission found that the Health Service Executive violated GDPR rules regarding data security.
Why this matters
This case emphasizes the need for healthcare organizations to implement strong security measures for handling sensitive information. It serves as a reminder that lapses in data protection can lead to serious privacy breaches.
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The DPC’s decision IN-19-9-2 of 29 September 2020 found that the Health Service Executive failed to provide appropriate safeguards for the use and disposal of paper patient handover notes at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, after documents were found in a member of the public’s garden. It found infringements of GDPR Articles 5(1)(f) and 32(1). The DPC expressly imposed no further corrective power or additional fine because the separate decision IN-19-9-1 of 18 August 2020 already addressed the same processing practices through a fine, reprimand and compliance order. The two decisions are distinct, but their monetary sanction must not be counted twice.
Outcome
Violation Found
The DPA found a violation but did not impose a fine.
Related Enforcement Actions (1)
Other enforcement actions involving Health Service Executive in IE
Details
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Health Service Executive - Ireland (2020). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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