Caithness man lodges complaint against NHS Highland manager
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A formal complaint has been lodged by a Caithness man against a senior NHS Highland manager over professional misconduct allegations.
Peter Todd, who is 39 and lives in Thurso, claims the person failed to comply with the health authority's complaints handling procedure and wanted what are described as data breaches within Mr Todd's Caithness psychiatric file "swept under the carpet."
He has put his complaint in writing and says what has happened is "disgraceful and yet another example of the ongoing bullying culture that persists" and justifies his decisions to once again involve the Information Commissioner (ICO) as well as far north MP Jamie Stone and MSP Maree Todd.
In his letter, Mr Todd states: "It is clear the manager who sent the internal email thought the astonishing data breaches could be swept under the carpet. I trust this formal complaint will be investigated within the complaints procedure set out in the NHS Public Facing Model Complaints Handling Procedure and I will receive a copy of my legal rights."
He says data breaches are "extremely serious" especially in his case as assurances were sought that none of the documents regarding his involvement in a Historical Abuse Inquiry have gone astray.
Mr Todd points out he has had meetings regarding his complaints with managers and senior executives as well as the clinical director for mental health services, and these were "the most productive".
"I would like to praise the clinical director for mental health services as he has vowed to get to the bottom of the issues with my file and that I will be given the appropriate assistance throughout the multiple Information Commissioner investigations," said Mr Todd, who is determined that what happened to him "never happens to another patient".
Mr Todd is unhappy with the psychiatric service provided to him and others in the far north and has received an apology from the health authority. He has three outstanding complaints lodged with the Information Commissioner's Office about management practices. The ICO is an independent watchdog which promotes openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
As reported last week, Mr Todd is concerned that confidential documents relating to an historical abuse case may have gone astray while he received medical documents belonging to another patient and is unsure if that other person knows about the error. The documents also contained confidential information about a clinician.
Mr Todd wanted to see the content of his file, which he sought as he continues his recovery from a mental health condition linked to the historical abuse.
He arranged for the document to be returned but wants the other patient's medical file examined to make sure that none of Mr Todd's medical information has ended up there. The person no longer lives in Caithness.
NHS Highland has apologised for “an administrative error” and confirmed it has referred the complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
