Setfords were instructed by a serving Police Officer who was on long term sickness absence from work due to several health conditions, including stress. This work-related stress claim was associated with a serious breach of confidentiality
Our client was assessed by the Police Force’s Occupational Health Unit, which informed the force of our client’s illness and vulnerability to further psychiatric injury.
Then, our client requested a copy of the Occupational Health Report. However, this was posted to the client’s neighbour in error, which constituted a serious breach of confidentiality, including our client’s personal and sensitive information.
Our client did eventually receive the report, which his neighbour had opened. Our client was not on speaking terms with his neighbour, who hadn’t been aware that our client was a serving Police Officer.
The neighbour admitted to reading the report and passing it to his daughter to read as he couldn’t understand it.
The report contained sensitive and personal information about our client’s medical history and why he was unfit for work.
The serious breach of confidentiality exacerbated our client’s psychiatric symptoms and pre-existing irritable bowel syndrome.
A claim notification form was lodged on the low-value claims portal, and a swift admission of liability was received from the defendant force.
Our client received £2,500 in damages for this claim relating to a serious breach of confidentiality.
David Miers
Consultant Solicitor
T: 01513180329 or call 0330 058 4012
ext. 2696
E: dmiers@setfords.co.uk