In February last year we reported that we had received instructions from more than 50 patients at the College Practice, Maidstone, whose medical records had been unlawfully accessed by Steven Tennison, a Business Manager employed by the Practice.
We are pleased to report that terms of settlement have now been reached, with the Practice’s insurers, on behalf of the first 36 women on whose behalf we issued proceedings.
We are now working with the Practice’s insurers on agreeing a protocol to deal with additional cases which we hope will be able to proceed to settlement in the early summer.
Nick Fairweather, our CEO, who oversaw the litigation, with the assistance of Paralegals, Steevi Henderson and Danielle Jones, commented as follows:-
“I am pleased that we took forward these novel cases, against the Practice, for such a serious breach of the Data Protection Act (we also argued unlawful discrimination). People’s medical records are the most sensitive and confidential data imaginable and it is extremely regrettable that such a wide spread breach was allowed to take place in this case. Happily, we have worked constructively, with the Practice and their insurers, to reach a speedy settlement to these existing claims, albeit that we had to issue proceedings. I expect the remaining and any further claims to settle shortly”.
Any women who have had their records unlawfully accessed should have received a letter to that effect and should contact us urgently to take forward a case.