Crowe calls on minister to intervene in Tallaght Hospital data breach

  Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called on Health
  Minister James Reilly to intervene to ensure that Tallaght Hospital
  reconsiders its policy of outsourcing transcription services in light of
  reports of a data breach of patient information and growing unemployment
  in the Tallaght area.

  Deputy Crowe was speaking today after reports that the hospital will
  continue to outsource transcription services to the Philippines.

  He said:

  “Reports today that Tallaght Hospital will continue to outsource the
  transcription of medical consultation reports and letters to the
  Philippines is an affront to those whose private data was breached and
  also to those locally unemployed people who could easily be hired to do
  this job.

  “I am calling on hospital chiefs at Tallaght Hospital to reconsider this
  policy of outsourcing transcription services. There is a major risk of
  identity theft and fraud of those people whose data is breached.

  “I recently asked the Health Minister James Reilly to outline his policy
  on this contracting of clerical work outside of Ireland by some
  hospitals and the minister did not even acknowledge that it is an issue.

  “This is simply not good enough.  The minister must intervene to ensure
  the safety of patients’ private data.

  “At a time of a major unemployment crisis the minister cannot allow this
  outsourcing to continue.” ENDS

  Editor’s note: PQ from Deputy Seán Crowe is below for your information.

  46.  Deputy Seán Crowe      asked the Minister for Health      his
  policy on the practice in some hospitals of contracting routine clerical
  work outside of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  [17909/11]

  Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly):    It is not a matter of
  Government policy that hospitals or other health services contract
  clerical work outside of Ireland, as suggested by the Deputy. However,
  all bodies in receipt of public funding, not just in the health sector,
  must manage their resources in the most cost effective and efficient
  manner possible.
  The Deputy will also be aware that the Government is also carrying out a
  Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Under this review, it is committed
  to examining all aspects of public expenditure, with a view to ensuring
  that all resources are used in the optimum manner to deliver services to
  citizens.