A FORMAL review is being carried out at a health board after the email addresses of almost 40 people living with HIV were accidentally made public.
The addresses of 37 patients were visible in an email sent by NHS Highland, along with an invitation to a support group run by a sexual health clinic at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Each of the patients who received the email have now been contacted by the board. It said in a statement: “NHS Highland deeply regrets that this breach of confidentiality has happened and we have contacted patients individually to apologise.
“A formal internal review is being conducted to understand how this has happened and to consider any steps to avoid this happening in future.”
HIV Scotland chief executive Nathan Sparling (pictured), said: “This kind of leak is unacceptable. Confidentiality is paramount when it comes to people living with HIV.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here