HDC investigation into breach of security at Canterbury DHB

The Health and Disability Commissioner, Ron Paterson, has concluded that no patients were harmed during the security breach at Christchurch Hospital in late 2006.

Mr Paterson has completed an inquiry into the circumstances that allowed Mr Turori Chapman to fraudulently obtain an identity badge from Canterbury DHB, giving him access to patient areas, patient information, and patients from 6 to 10 October 2006.

The investigation, which commenced in October 2006, found that Mr Chapman made a calculated decision to fraudulently obtain an identity badge, and succeeded in his attempt. Although the systems to obtain an identity badge at CDHB were imperfect, this became apparent only when examined in the light of Mr Chapman’s deception.

Commissioner Ron Paterson commented:

“Clearly, the public should be able to trust hospitals to issue identity badges only to authorised members of staff. Patients and their families put great trust in hospital staff, and it is essential that hospitals have systems that are secure enough to prevent abuse. In this case, a dishonest yet plausible person was able to circumvent the systems to enable him to obtain a seemingly legitimate identity card.”

“I am satisfied that no patient came to harm as a result of Mr Chapman’s actions, and that CDHB has acted appropriately as a result of the incident by further strengthening the relevant procedures.”

The Commissioner has asked the DHB to advise him, by 31 May 2007, of the results of an audit into compliance with the new identity badge procedure.

A partially anonymised copy of the Commissioner’s final decision is available at www.hdc.org.nz/opinions/06HDC15763.

ENDS

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