THAT’S IN BAD TEST
Meat factory bosses told Covid status of workers before staff got results Employers should not be receiving results for employees
Covid-19 test
Simon Harris
MEAT factory bosses received Covid-19 test results on their workers before the individuals involved were told if they were infected.
It has emerged the HSE has been flouting data protection laws by handing employers personal medical details of their staff.
And the Chief Medical Officer described the practice, which has been defended by Health Minister Simon Harris, as a breach of confidentiality.
Dr Tony Holohan told the Dail’s Covid-19 committee meeting yesterday “employers should not be receiving results for employees”.
Figures from the Department of Health show there are a total of 828 Covid-19 cases in meat processing plants, an increase of 328 on last week.
Dr Holohan said: “We have had some reports of employers receiving results in respect of individual patients – that’s a breach of confidentiality. Full stop.”
However, the Health Minister tried to defend the HSE’S illegal actions as being necessary in a letter he sent to Independent TD Denis Naughten, who raised the issue in the Dail last week.
Mr Harris added: “It has been necessary in the interests of public health to convey results of cases of confirmed Covid-19 to the management of the plant to ensure the workers quickly can be sent home from the factory floor for their own health and that of their fellow employees.”
The minister also confirmed in his letter the practice was taking place in nursing homes.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid also attempted to defend the data breach.
He said: “There may have been one case – probably one case that we know of – where the employer was notified [about] the significant number of positive cases and that discretion is for the public health official to make and the judgment that they make.”
But the Data Protection Commission confirmed it has received a number of complaints.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle added: “The DPC cannot see how it can be legitimised that medical test results of this nature would not be communicated in the first instance directly to each individual staff member whether by SMS text or phone call.
“While it may be necessary for the HSE to inform management and employers of positive results after the staff member has received those results in the context of the tracing of close contacts in the aggregate setting, this does not negate the need to communicate with the individual about their personal data.
“The DPC is in receipt of queries and complaints from individuals who have expressed shock and upset at receiving results via their manager in aggregate settings.
“While we are still examining those complaints, it appears to be the case that at a minimum communication has been unclear to the affected staff members in terms of how the process is being managed.
“Given public health authorities clearly want to maintain the trust of the public in the testing and tracing system and keep people engaging with that system, it is important these issues are clarified and rectified.”
DR TONY HOLOHAN THE DAIL YESTERDAY