Private and professional data from 500 medical staff was leaked. Photo: DC_Studio.
Hundreds of doctors and medical staff from across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven have had their personal and professional documentation leaked, with confidential details accidentally made publicly available.
A massive privacy breach at NSW Health has impacted more than 500 medical staff from across the region with Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) Chief Executive Margot Mains revealing that “confidential documents” were “unintentionally made accessible via search on the district’s website.”
The leaked data is believed to have included personal information such as passports, driver’s licences and Medicare cards as well as professional documentation such as credentials, registration and work history.
“All documents were removed, and a full investigation is underway including forensic analysis,” Ms Mains said.
“The documents do not contain patient records or other patient identifiers.”
Although there were public concerns raised regarding risk of identity theft or fraud, Ms Mains said there was “no known malicious use of the data”.
Ms Mains said ISLHD had already informed impacted staff and continued to offer support.
“The district has conducted privacy impact assessments and proactively engaged with the staff impacted, directly contacting affected clinicians to provide information,” Ms Mains said.
“Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District takes the privacy of our patients and our staff very seriously and we sincerely apologise to the impacted staff.
“The district has also engaged IDCare, Australia’s identity and cyber support service, to provide free advice and support to staff.”
Original Article published by Keeli Dyson on Region Illawarra.
