An email from the Canberra Health Services’ CEO has revealed a serious breach in the privacy of patient health records.

The email sent to staff stated that patient ‘records have been sent to multiple people within one of our industrial partners’ without consent.

The email went on to say that the documents were ‘whole clinical records, in some cases scanned from hard copy and deliberately emailed to individuals outside the organisation’.

Shadow Minister for Health Leanne Castley said the email is of great concern and the Minister must come out and answer questions about the significant privacy breach of patients.

“This is a very serious matter, and I am stunned the Minister has not made Canberrans aware of this issue,” Ms Castley said.

“If the breach is serious enough for the CEO to inform employees within CHS then Canberrans, many of whom would have their information held by the hospital, deserve to be made aware as well.”

The email also explains that these breaches have been ongoing over an extended period and that CHS have made the discovery in ‘recent weeks’.

It goes on to explain that ‘breaches like these don't just have implications for the ongoing employment of those involved, it’s unlawful conduct that carries heavy criminal penalties’.

“Patients want to have confidence that their data is managed in a safe and responsible way, and they have the right to be notified after a discovery that there have been data compromises,” Ms Castley said.

“This Labor-Greens government is lurching from one crisis to another at the moment and with our health system at breaking point, Canberrans deserve better,” Ms Castley concluded.