NHS Lanarkshire staff used unauthorised WhatsApp group to share personal patient info

dailyrecord.co.uk:

NHS Lanarkshire has been rapped over unauthorised sharing of patients’ information on WhatsApp. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has revealed that personal data was shared more than 500 times in a group chat that included phone numbers, addresses, images, videos and screenshots.An investigation found that 26 workers used the network to communicate between April 2020 and 2022.

The group was set up early on in the pandemic to allow workers to speak to each other during the tight Covid restrictions.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android While WhatsApp is approved for NHS staff for basic communication, it is not approved by the health service for sharing sensitive data.

And a non-staff member was added to the group in error, resulting in the inappropriate disclosure of personal information.NHS Lanarkshire was made aware of the issue and reported the incident to the ICO, which conducted an investigation and concluded the organisation did not have the appropriate policies, clear guidance, or processes in place when WhatsApp was made available to download.