NSHA: 2,700 people impacted by privacy breach in Antigonish

Nova Scotia Health has released a statement following a privacy breach that saw nearly 2,700 people impacted in Antigonish.

Nova Scotia Health is currently in the process of contacting 2,690 people by letter whose personal health information was “inappropriately accessed” by a former employee at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. That person has since been fired.

“Nova Scotia Health views this as a summary offence under the Personal Health Information Act and the RCMP are currently investigating,” the statement reads. “The information accessed in this incident included registration, demographic, and clinical information.”

NSHA says it is “extremely disappointed” in the situation.

“Nova Scotia Health will not tolerate any unauthorized access or snooping,” the statement reads.

According to the organization, it will take full force to combat this. Since the breach, the NSHA says it has taken “several steps” to limit the access of patients’ privacy.

Nova Scotia Health said it has notified the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Nova Scotia and will work with the office on any recommendations they may offer as a result of these breaches.