DOZENS of confidential patient medical records were breached after they ended up in a charity shop, it has been revealed.

More than 40 patients at Mersea Island Medical Practice were affected by the breach when a GP took the documents home and accidentally donated them to St Helena’s Hospice.

Staff members realised what they were and handed them back to the surgery, but not before some had been seen. The three members of hospice staff signed confidentiality agreements not to discuss the contents.

Patient Jodie Keating was affected by the breach when she was being referred for ADHD.

She said: “It’s unreal. I had gone to see my doctor as my son suffers from ADHD and I was noticing similarities in myself.

“But in between then and a referral to a London clinic somehow my medical records ended up in a charity shop.

“I got a letter saying they had been seen by other people but had now been returned.

“They just said sorry for the inconvenience. It was a shock. You don’t want people seeing your medical records.”

The breach of confidentiality happened in 2017 but patients have only just come forward.

Following their return, the documents were examined by the practice to ensure none were missing.

Mersea Practice apologised to patients affected by letter and referred the incident to the Information Commissioner and NHS England, who were satisfied with their investigation and that the documents were secure.

However, Ms Keating, 35, said she had “lost faith” in the surgery.

Following the referral, Ms Keating was prescribed medication in London but was told her GP would need to monitor her every three months to ensure the medication was working and to provide a repeat prescription.

However, she said the surgery declined, meaning she cannot have the medication she has been prescribed.

Ms Keating, of West Mersea, added: “I have been arguing with the doctors to do this but they just said they won’t.

“After this and them losing my medical records I have just lost faith in my surgery. I don’t know where to go.”

The Gazette approached the practice for a comment but it had not responded at the time of going to press.