This is how cr*p the NHS adminstration is. They need a good shaking out and re-organisation.

Quite concerning. Does your area have 'form' for doing this?

Monica, this is dreadful.
In addition to the Information Commissioner and your MP, how about calling your local newspaper or radio station?
When I was working, we did this occasionally and it was amazing how it galvanised senior admin staff into action.

It is needed. Your account was shocking to read MOnica

Breach of confidentiality indeed for the other poor patient!!

Maybe the two of you could tackle it together? Can you figure out how to get hold of him? (ie if all else fails - you could maybe put up a post on the main local Facebook group searching for him and someone will probably know his name and put him onto you).

Maybe it's a direct data swap - and he has your data in return?

I know queries about various issues - lost dogs, someone else has got your post, etc go up often on my local area FB groups.

Even if - unlikely - no-one replies on behalf of him I imagine it will trigger responses from other people locally that have had the same issue and you can do a "group attack" on that inefficient health authority. He won't be the only one that they've done this too and who knows who is sitting there with your own info sent to them by mistake.

Appalling MOnica it’ll probably be hard work, but I hope you succeed in highlighting this red flag on so many counts.

You state that you have already tried PALS???? Put your complaint in writing to them…….ours hospital trust PALS are excellent at following up and investigating concerns and complaints.
You might also consider contacting your MP and the Commissioning body for your area.

I could cry as to what’s happening in our NHS.
In the past two weeks 2 close friends have come close to being seriously ill.
One was with a dentist who did such an awful job of an abscess and refused her an appointment 3 days later when she was still in agony.
She was fortunate enough to get an appointment with another surgery who told her im phoning the dentist dept at a hospital and I want you to go NOW
The other friend had an accident with a drill ( through his finger) Treated at A&E.
A few days later he had a lot of pain going up his arm and across his back. We are fortunate in that we have a walk in clinic.
The first words from the Doctor were who did this They had done such an awful job of cleaning it up.
This poor man is already fighting a negligence case over the death of his father. 😥
I hope you get this disgraceful situation sorted MOnica

Send a copy and details of everything to Wes Streeting.

I'm not surprised, M0nica.

I've had my notes mixed up with those of another patient, so I know her medical history (presumably she may know mine too). I've received her medication along with mine too.

Letters, texts and emails arrived after the date of the appointment and that is not just us; hospital staff are left wondering why few patients turned up at clinic.

I had a letter from my Consultant mentioning treatment for a serious condition which I hadn't realised I had, when I phoned the secretary she checked then apologised for the mistake.

To be sent someone's test results time after time when you have pointed this out is unforgivable.

The administrative side is chaotic and all the mistakes must be costing the NHS a lot of wasted money and time.

I was shocked to read this,and so far they don't seem to be taking it seriously. When we were working my Husband received some tax papers,and attached was a page with another person's details. Tax number .NI number etc. The response we had from Inland Revenue was similar to your response from the hospital. It makes me furious

Catgrann
They have no reason to take it seriously
They have a captive customer base 🤷‍♀️ We don’t have an option other than private.

put up a post on the main local Facebook group searching for him and someone will probably know his name and put him onto you)

Do you not think this is a further breach of his privacy? He might not have told anyone he has been for tests etc. I would be horrified if I thought people were discussing my health on FB.

Not long after we moved here I was referred for an urgent colonoscopy. Checking in I was asked for name and date of birth. A bracelet was attached to my wrist.

The consultant came to see me and asked what we thought to be some very odd questions before checking my address and asking where we had moved from and when. That had me mentioning my work in primary care.

He looked more than confused. Asked when I had stopped being treated by another consultant. I replied I had never seen her.

At this point he shot out of the room. Came back and explained not only was my date of birth the same as another patient but also my name, including both first names. The receptionist had assumed the other patient had moved house. My wrist band carried her details, not mine

Off we trotted to the theatre. There I am lying inelegantly waiting when suddenly I hear - we’re doing nothing until this lady has the correct wrist band. He advised me to always check the NHS number attached to any treatment I had. Indeed!

The consultant was furious, assured me the issue would not be ignored. Of course it should never have happened. Unlike M0nica I did feel the muddle had been taken seriously, being sent another patients test results is surely inexcusable.

Tizliz I will absolutely to nothing to contact this patient. His name and test results, which I would not dream of looking at, are absolutely safe with me, as is his privacy. I did not even mention his name in my email to the hospital.

Here is the next response from the hospital.

Thank you, I should be able to find you with that information, your request will be processed under the Data Protection Act 2018.

Your request was received on the 1st December 2025. We will endeavour to respond to your request by 28thDecember 2025.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

and with the 28th December coming in the middle of the Christmas/New Year break, whose laying any money on me getting a respinse this side of the New Year? I am not.

By moving house I seem tto have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. My previous lot misdiagnosed me with strokes, when I hadsomething entirely different, this lot cannot even tell the difference between my name and another patient. To be fair their first name starts with the same letter as mine, but after that the divergence is complete.

Tizliz

*put up a post on the main local Facebook group searching for him and someone will probably know his name and put him onto you)*

Do you not think this is a further breach of his privacy? He might not have told anyone he has been for tests etc. I would be horrified if I thought people were discussing my health on FB.

I'm sure M0nica is canny enough she'd only put very basic details - eg his name and no more than that.

M0nica

Tizliz I will absolutely to nothing to contact this patient. His name and test results, which I would not dream of looking at, are absolutely safe with me, as is his privacy. I did not even mention his name in my email to the hospital.

I was sure you would not do this

I'd contact your MP and copy in Wes Streeting.

I’m just sick of everyone calling it ‘our’ NHS. It stopped being ‘ours’ years ago.

Is this of any help, Monica? ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

It’s a shocking breech of privacy, IMO.

cornergran I remember when my MIL was in hospital, being treated for pneumonia. We visited and realised she had been starved 24 hours and was going to be given a barium meal in preparation for a colonoscopy. When I asked the sister in charge why, when she did not have any bowel problems but had pneumonia I was told the colonoscopy would show them a lot. It turned out they'd mixed her up with the woman in the bed opposite, someone had mixed up the notes at the end of the bed.

I wish I could say I was shocked. For years, again and again, the NHS repeatedly confused me with my late mum though the only thing we had in common was our surname.
I agree with others who have said write to your MP and the newspapers. While you do need to sort this out for your own benefit, taking it as far as you can will protect others…..hopefully.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I’m just sick of everyone calling it ‘our’ NHS. It stopped being ‘ours’ years ago.

I realised that when the times I can pick up my medication have changed, not to suit the patient, nor apparently the staff, but by decree of 'Management'. Now it's a 35 mile trip in the rush hour. They refuse to deliver it to the nearest hub hospital although there are daily deliveries of medications there.

A few years ago I received a letter from my consultant, telling me that Mrs. X had now passed away.
The letter should have been sent to a different consultant, and certainly not to me.
I sent the letter back to my own consultant, with a covering note. He was very grateful, but really, this should never have happened.