Woman charged after patient records accessed in NHS data breach

The breach is believed to have been spotted during an NHS Lothian audit

A woman has been charged after patients had their private medical records accessed during an NHS data breach.

Reports suggest about 100 people could have had their records accessed as a result of the incident.

The breach is believed to have been spotted during a routine audit last month.

NHS Lothian said it discovered patients in the region may have had their information "inappropriately accessed" during routine monitoring. It said affected patients had been contacted.

Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director of the health board, said: "Routine monitoring suggested that patient records had been accessed inappropriately and an immediate investigation was launched.

"Appropriate action has been taken. Patients were contacted to make them aware and the incident was reported to Police Scotland and the Information Commissioner's Office. We do not comment on individual members of staff."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "On Tuesday, 16 September we received a report regarding a data breach in the Edinburgh area.

"A woman has been charged in connection, and a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal."