General Chat

Today my sister and I had a trip to Hemswell Antique Centre in Lincolnshire.
We found a midwifes Home Confinement Register for sale for £9.
I couldnt believe what a was reading,,,it contained names ,address and ages of the mothers,,how many children she had had previously,,if she had a heamorrhage,,need sutures,,stillbirths etc,,all from 1942--1958.
We decided to buy the register and once i had handed over the cash and the book was in my sister hands i told the lady on the sales desk that its illegal to have such confidential material for sale and from such a recent time ,
Once outside my sister rang the gynae ward where she works and told matron. She was really angry and upset about it and when my sister goes on duty tomorrow she is taking the book in and it will be returned to Doncaster Health Authority .
Apparantly our £9 is to be refunded to us,
The money isnt a problem,,I just couldnt have left the book there knowing what it contained.

Good heavens above, I know a few people whose names could possible be in that register if it pertains to the Doncaster/Sheffield districts.

Harpstrings x

I honestly shudder to think what could be out there in the big wide world, items containing our personal records/details for all and sundry to come across one day at a car boot sale or similar.
You did the right thing Claire, thank goodness. It's not the money is it, but having morals and a kind heart !!


K

Karen, once someone has died their medical records are kept in safe storage for 10 years after that they are destroyed forever. (in the UK).

Tina x

Don't anyone kid themselves that anything is sacred nowadays. My OH hates me sending any info such as bank details over the net, but when I signed him up to Forces reunited, the day he enlisted appeared on his write up.I certainly didn't put it there, and untill reminded, my hubby had forgotten.

Thanks for the info Harpstrings, I hadn't realised that. Let's hope the Safe is safe!!

K

Karen, I believe the NHS use the old salt mines for storage.

Harpstrings x

Dear Claire in Lincs

Hello.

I am glad you showed such honesty.
Many people would not have.

Selling confidential material like that is abhorrent.

Whatever the year of medical treatment, people have a right to privacy.

When our nearby hospital closed down, well it was almost falling down, all the records from 1885 onwards were stored away and then passed onto the local archive service after the 100 years privacy rule expired for those old records.

I am not happy with the idea of our medical info being stored on a computer system that can be accessed by anyone in the country.

Computer systems can always be hacked into.

What is talked about with a GP is supposed to be confidential and none of anyone else's business.

Otherwise, we could all sell our details and stories
to the newspapers.

Best wishes to all
xx