12 December 2000

Closed Hospital files secure

The Ministry of Health has ensured that files containing operating details of patients from the former Rawhiti Hospital in Auckland are stored safely and securely.

Ministry officials met the chairman of the Rawhiti Trust today to discuss the situation after reports that confidential files had been left at the now disused private hospital in Mount Eden.

Director General of Health, Dr Karen Poutasi, said that a small room adjacent of the main Hospital block had been broken into. It had been secured but the lock was broken.

The Ministry ensured that the building was secured as soon as it learned of the situation, while the provider was contacted. A security firm contracted by the new owners of the property had been guarding the former hospital site.

Dr Poutasi said, after discussions by Ministry officials with the chair of the Trust Dr Andrew Mackintosh that it appeared to be an oversight that a small number of files had been inadvertently left in the adjacent room.

The files have since been removed and are now in safe storage.

Providers have a responsibility under the Health (Retention of Health Information) Regulations 1996 to safely and surely store records for a minimum 10 year period. The files will not be destroyed.

The Ministry is continuing its discussions with Dr Mackintosh in regards to any further actions that may need to be taken.

ENDS.

For more information contact: Annie Coughlan, Media Advisor, ph: 04-496-2483 or 025-495 989 Internet address: http://www.moh.govt.nz/media.html

Annie Coughlan Media Advisor Communications Communications DDI: 496 2182 Fax: 496 2010 mailto:annie_coughlan@moh.govt.nz Ministry of Health

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