![\"Doctor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_306336262-03da.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe phone call exposed \u2018identifying details and sensitive health information\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe phone call exposed \u2018identifying details and sensitive health information\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A doctor disclosed private medical information after they took a phone<\/a> call while examining a patient.<\/p>\n The Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) in Guernsey<\/a> said \u2018identifying details and sensitive health<\/a> information\u2019 about someone else were overheard as the call was made.<\/p>\n The ODPA said the breach created a \u2018risk of distress and loss of privacy\u2019 for the person affected and said the healthcare provider involved reminded the doctor about their data protection duties.<\/p>\n The watchdog added the provider had arranged additional staff training. It recommended training be given to new staff and refreshed annually in a bid to prevent similar incidents in the future.<\/p>\n Data protection commissioner Brent Homan said: \u2018Breaches are not just about records, but include overheard conversations.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n \t\t It comes despite the ODPA reporting a fall in the number of serious data breaches in Guernsey in the second quarter of 2026.<\/p>\n The authority said it was notified of 49 breaches between April and June.<\/p>\n Of these, four were classed as high-risk, down from seven the previous quarter.<\/p>\n A further 10 cases were eventually found not to meet the threshold of a reportable breach.<\/p>\n The figures follow statistics released in June, which showed high-risk incidents had fallen from 12 to seven in the first three months of the year.<\/p>\n Homan said: \u2018It is encouraging to see high-risk breach incident reports decline for a second quarter.<\/p>\n \u2018When organisations report breaches, they not only fulfill an important legal obligation but can benefit from our office\u2019s expertise in mitigating any harmful effects of a security incident.\u2019<\/p>\n The most commonly reported breach involved emails being sent to the wrong person.<\/p>\n Across the UK, more than 1,400 serious patient data breaches have been recorded across the NHS over the past few years, a Freedom of Information request by the Health Service Journal found.<\/p>\n Recently, one included an \u2018urgent\u2019 investigation which was launched after 40 staff members accessed files about a young boy who was attacked by a crocodile<\/a> and taken to Addenbrooke\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Cambridge University<\/a> Hospitals said in June that they were looking into why so many people accessed the victim\u2019s records, and has referred itself to the Information Commissioner\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n They said: \u2018We have strict policies in place to safeguard patient data and we take any breach extremely seriously.<\/p>\n \u2018Where any member of staff is found to have accessed patient records without legitimate clinical or operational reasons we take robust disciplinary action, including dismissal.<\/p>\n \u2018As part of our response to any breach, we notify both the ICO and apologise to patients and their families affected.\u2019<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_292402210-14e1.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe number of serious breaches in Guernsey fell in the second quarter of 2026 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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