Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 4

Written Answers. - Confidentiality of Files.

John Browne

Ceist:

156 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Health and Children the protocol in place in the South-Eastern Health Board to ensure that the confidentiality of the personnel files of its psychiatric nurse employees, which contain sensitive information, is protected; if these files are held under lock and key by the hospital manager; if a file can be made available to members of the medical staff in a particular hospital for reasons other than health grounds without the knowledge of the employee concerned; and, if so, the circumstances which must apply to satisfy this course of action. [4397/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

As the Deputy will be aware, the maintenance of personnel files of employees of the South-Eastern Health Board is a matter for that board.

I am informed by the South-Eastern Health Board that all files pertaining to hospital employees are retained in the general office of the relevant hospital under the supervision of the staff officer. The office is not open to other staff members and is controlled by a combination lock. The two keys to the office are retained by the staff officer and the hospital manager. It should be noted that individual staff would have access to their own personal files. In the board's head office all files are kept in a secure cabinet which is locked at all times.

If the Deputy has a particular query in relation to the confidentiality of personnel files he might raise the matter directly with the chief executive officer of the South-Eastern Health Board.