COLCHESTER General Hospital has leaked private information after it sent a patient home with someone else’s confidential details.

Mick Guernari, 63, spent ten hours at the Turner Road hospital after being admitted with asthma and emphysema.

However, when he arrived home after being discharged, he found someone else’s discharge letter in his hospital bag.

Mr Guernari, who lives in Colchester, said: “A nurse gave me my discharge letter and when I got home and looked at it I realised it wasn’t mine.

“It had details of someone else’s condition on there, their personal details like their name, address, national health number and national insurance number.

“I think it is disgusting and very worrying.

“Now I know I amnot going to do anything with these details except give them back to the hospital.

“But what is worrying for me is what has happened to my discharge letter? Who has my details and what are they doing with them?”

Mr Guernari was admitted at about 10am on Wednesday, after being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

He was discharged at about 8pm the same day.

He said the same nurse who admitted him at the beginning of the day gave him his discharge letter when he left.

Mr Guernari added: “I have absolutely no complaints with how I was treated at the hospital.

They did a wonderful job.

“But the same poor male nurse was on throughout and it makes me wonder whether he was tired and that’s why the mistake was made. When I left, he was still on duty.

“I don’t want to bring them down. I know their job is very stressful at times, but this has really gone too far.”

A spokesman said Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust took data protection and patient confidentiality extremely seriously, and all staff have to undergo training in this area every 12 months.

He said: “We would like to thank Mr Guernari for contacting Colchester General Hospital late yesterday to alert us to our error.

“As soon as we were made aware, a senior nurse began an investigation and visited him at his home today to apologise unreservedly and to give to him the correct letter.

“Once we have completed our investigation, we will be sharing our findings with Mr Guernari.

“In addition, the trust will also be reporting itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office.”

He added Mr Guernari had been given part of a letter meant for another patient.

The trust would also be contacting this patient to make her aware and to apologise.