Digital transformation is at the forefront of many organisations, including those in the healthcare sector. Businesses working through digital transformation projects have to plan for GDPR compliance from the very beginning, rather than struggling to rework it so as to meet requirements. Under the data protection legislation, data concerning health and care must be protected against unauthorised and unlawful processing, on top of accidental loss, destruction, or damage. Data controllers and data processors are compelled to implement technical and organisational measures to ensure a high level of security. 

The GDPR enhanced existing protections for the personal data and privacy of individuals within the European Union. It was welcomed by the public, which doesn’t come as a surprise given the countless reports in the media about the theft of customer data. Nevertheless, hospitals and similar healthcare facilities weren’t very happy. Many of them fail to comply with the privacy rules due to the lack of investment. Also, some healthcare specialists believe they don’t have to play by the rules. Everyone has to abide by the law, so healthcare organisations should have a plan to help address some of the demands. 

Stepping Hill Hospital Massively Improves Patient Services and Becomes GDPR Complaint  

Stepping Hill Hospital is run by the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The hospital treats more than 500,000 patients each year, providing emergency care, as well as surgery and a number of specialities, ranging from trauma to stroke care. Recently, Stepping Hill Hospital launched a system that enables porters to become more involved in the allocation process. More precisely, they are where they need to be, when they need to be there. Many agree that porters are the lifeblood of the NHS. It’s up to them to make sure that patients are at the right place at the right time. 

Back in the day, Stepping Hill Hospital used to rely on manual processes to manage its portering services. When they needed a porter, the wards would give a call to the dispatcher at the helpdesk. All the details of the job were recorded in an Excel spreadsheet. Consequently, the porter had to return to the cabin to get the details prior to completing the task. Since not all patient information was stored electronically, there were many risks associated in terms of GDPR compliance. Now, all that has changed. The healthcare facility has automated portering services.

Stepping Hill Hospital has a solution to manage portering services. It enables the intelligent dispatch of porters to available jobs within the healthcare institution. The process is no longer vulnerable to human error. As we all know, patient data needs to be looked after carefully in line with the law. After careful consideration, Stepping Hill Hospital chose MyPorter, a bespoke software solution developed by GV Healthcare. Patient information is more secure as the paper-based process has been eliminated. As the solution works in conjunction with hospital systems, porters have all the necessary details. The application will increase the organisation’s operational efficiency. 

Data Breaches Compromise Information That Puts Patients at Risk 

It’s estimated that more than 95% of data breaches are the result of human error. There’s not a single person who doesn’t make mistakes. It’s a core part of the human experience. Unintentional actions (or lack of actions) allow a security breach to occur. The good news is that human error can be reduced with awareness training. Other common causes of data breaches include unauthorised access/disclosure, hacking/IT incidents, theft, improper disposal, and loss. If a data breach incident occurs, the law requires a series of actions, including assessing the incident in question, notifying the ICO, and taking measures to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.  

If a healthcare organisation hasn’t respected the data protection law, and the victim has suffered material and/or non-material losses, they can sue. There’s no shortage of useful guidance on how to start a GDPR compensation claim. It’s recommended to take independent legal advice. How much compensation will be awarded depends largely on the judge’s decision. They’ll analyse how serious the infringement is and take into account its impact on the victim. The aim of compensatory damages is to remedy the existing shortcomings and enhance data protection. Progress should be made in health data protection, given its sensitivity. 

Patient information is important because it can be used to target victims with frauds and scams. In other words, malicious actors take advantage of the victim’s medical condition for monetary gains. It’s mandatory for healthcare facilities to take note of the security risks and implement proper measures to mitigate those potential risks. In the clinical setting, it’s crucial to strike a balance between efficiency, safety, and data protection. Personal medical records are more valuable to threat actors as compared to credit card information. Hackers can get their hands on various types of data, such as names, addresses, dates of birth, and billing information. 

NHS Is the Data Controller Under the UK GDPR 

Under the GDPR, the data controller holds the most responsibility as far as protecting the privacy and rights of the data’s subject are concerned. The NHS Commissioning Board is responsible for personal health information. The legal basis for using personal information is to offer health and social care. The NHS facilitates accountability, not to mention that it helps healthcare organisations become GDPR compliant by providing much-needed support, advice, and assurance. Patients have several rights, including the right to be informed, the right to obtain a copy of their personal data, the right to have the data rectified, the right to have the data erased, the right to object to the processing of personal data, and the right to complain to the ICO. 

Leaks that are due to human error are common. Therefore, trusts, social care providers, and commercial entities handling NHS data need to proceed with caution. It’s possible that the handling procedures aren’t properly documented. There’s an urgent need for better, more effective use of data to improve services, address health inequalities, and support research for new treatments. Sensitive data should be processed lawfully, fairly, and most importantly, in a transparent manner.