HSE fined €645,000 for improper storage of medical records

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been fined €645,000 by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) following the discovery of improperly stored medical records. The investigation was triggered after individuals gained access to disused psychiatric hospitals, including St Conal's Hospital in Donegal and St Loman's Hospital in Westmeath, and shared footage of the files on social media.

Following inspections of 12 HSE facilities, the DPC found that paper records were kept in states of “profound disarray and neglect.” Investigators reported that documents were stored in disused bathrooms, shipping containers, and derelict buildings lacking heating or lighting. Many records were found to be contaminated by animal droppings, destroyed by mould, covered in rubble, or damaged by water and rot.

Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle stated that the physical conditions of the storage sites compromised the integrity of the documents, noting that the records could not be considered organized or accessible. In addition to the fines, the DPC has issued corrective orders to the HSE.