IT IS my understanding that opening and reading letters sent via the Royal Mail without the agreement of the intended recipient is an illegal act.
I was therefore surprised and concerned to discover that such a communication addressed to me by a member of the public via Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust had, indeed, been so scrutinised by its non-clinical officers.
I therefore lodged a formal complaint with the trust regarding the illegality of its action and pointing out that it constituted a violation of my right to privacy, concerning the content of such correspondence and also lodged a threat to patient confidentiality.
The letter at issue was from a patient of 93 criticising cleaning procedures in trust hospitals and, in view of the chance of readmission, she understandably wished her name to be withheld from the officer concerned.
In reply I was told that the opening of such correspondence was "not unusual" and I was denied an assurance that it would not continue.
The trust's attitude was made more offensive in that I retired 18 years ago as a consultant gynaecologist; that they should consider it their right to intercept my correspondence so long afterwards defies belief.
My concerns have been exacerbated by the fact that the Ombudsman service has upheld the right of trust managements to open letters addressed to former employees.
That a Government quango should authorise such actions is disturbing evidence of the progress towards a surveillance society under the present Government.
I advise patients to think twice before writing to retired consultants and other clinical staff c/o the trust office. Clearly there is no guarantee that any confidential information their letters may contain will not be scrutinised by management before reaching the clinician concerned.
(Dr) Bob Heys
(Retired Consultant Gynaecologist)