Two calls to hotline after abortion details released

Details of more than 600 women who had abortions in the central North Island were released to a reporter in January. Photo / Thinkstock

A hotline set up after details of women who had abortions were mistakenly released by Lakes District Health Board has received two calls from concerned patients.

An investigation is still under way to find out how the details of more than 600 women who had abortions in the central North Island were released to a reporter in January. The National Health Index (NHI) number, date of birth and ethnicity of 625 women who have used the board's termination of pregnancy service were released but the details did not include names. The board said it was extremely unlikely anyone would be able to be identified.

Lakes District Health Board communications officer Sue Wilkie said patients who had rung the hotline had been assured no identifiable details were on the list and the health board was not able to tell whether their particular details were included in the information.

"The review will likely make recommendations regarding possible changes to organisational processes and systems that could help minimise the risks of a similar privacy breach."

She said nobody had been disciplined over the incident.

"Lakes DHB is looking at the organisational and system changes that need to be made to ensure a mistake like this does not happen again."

Miss Wilkie said Rotorua Hospital carried out some terminations if they were for medical reasons.

Others were referred by their primary care giver to the Waikato Termination of Pregnancy service for a decision as to the most appropriate facility to have the procedure.