Page 648 - Week 02 - Thursday, 23 March 2023
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answer any questions that people might have and to make sure that the appropriate supports are there for them. It is really important that, when something like this happens to a patient’s private, confidential data, they feel supported through that process.
Supports were provided to the affected patients and their families and carers throughout the process. In some circumstances the Public Advocate also participated in the process. It takes a little bit of time to get all of those things organised. That is why the email to all staff did not go out until 6 March, which was when patient disclosures had commenced.
Canberra Health Services—data security
MR COCKS: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, in your statement today you stated that you were made aware on 8 February this year of this breach. You also stated that you have been unable to make a statement until all patients had been briefed, which was “late yesterday”. Minister, why did it take from 8 February until late yesterday to adequately inform the victims and their families of this situation?
MS DAVIDSON: Thank you for the question. As I said in my statement this morning, I was notified on 8 February verbally, and I did receive further updates in the weeks following as more information came to light about the extent and nature of the information that had been shared. An audit needed to be undertaken to determine the breadth of the breach, and that uncovered quite a bit of information and took some time, and it was not until 27 February that we had a really clear understanding of the number of patients and staff involved.
The patient disclosure process cannot commence until we know what it is that needs to be disclosed, and we understand who information may have been shared with. It was not confirmed to me until late yesterday afternoon that some of the details that were in my statement had actually been shared with the families. It is very important that they hear those kinds of details from CHS before they hear about it in the media. This is what respect and dignity are about. It is about making sure that they hear that information from someone from whom they can ask for further details if they need them, and that support is provided to them in those conversations as well.
MR COCKS: Minister, why was an email then sent to 8,000 staff on 6 March, and the CEO was in the media throughout the week, if victims had not been briefed until late yesterday?
MS DAVIDSON: The information that was shared in the email that went to all staff was information that we knew we could safely provide at that time. Some of the details in the statement that I made this morning had not been shared with people on 6 March, but has been since.
MS CASTLEY: Minister, why were you the last to make a statement on the issue?
MS DAVIDSON: We are talking here about a breach of privacy for individual patients within Canberra Health Services. The first people who should be hearing
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