HIV email bungle by health board probed

AN investigation has been launched after the names of nearly 40 people with HIV were included in an email sent to each patient.

It was sent out by NHS Highland inviting patients to a support group run by Raigmore Hospital’s sexual health service.

A total of 37 patients received the same invitation – which promised to ‘respect your anonymity’ – with addresses of all the recipients visible. One man who received the email said he was ‘stunned’ by the health board’s error.

The man in his 40s, who asked not to be named, told STV news: ‘I scrolled the list and saw names clearly in some of those addresses, mine included.

‘You feel physically sick – people you know, people you might have been with over the years – and it sets off all those dark thoughts you had just after diagnosis.’

The invitation read: ‘We discuss various aspects of HIV treatment and care, support services and current developments in the field of HIV.

‘We share our findings of our meetings with the NHS Highland Sexual Health Strategy Group...

‘Would you like to become involved and have your say? We respect your anonymity so our minutes never identify members present.’

A health board spokesman said: ‘NHS Highland deeply regrets this breach of confidentiality has happened and we have contacted patients individually to apologise.

‘As per normal procedure, a formal internal review is being conducted to understand how this has happened and to consider any steps to avoid this happening in future.’

Nathan Sparling, chief executive of the HIV Scotland charity, said: ‘Confidentiality is of paramount importance when it comes to people living with HIV... People affected by this leak will be understandably distressed.’