Northern Sydney nurse arrested after allegedly stealing confidential patient data
A nurse has been arrested in Sydney’s north for allegedly stealing confidential patient information without permission.
The 59-year-old French Forest man was arrested by detectives from the NSW Police Cyber Crime Squad on Thursday night for allegedly “accessing and downloading patient data without permission”.
A police spokesman said detectives “seized several electronic devices which they claimed contained patients’ details”.
The man worked for the North Sydney Local Health District, one of the largest metropolitan health districts, covering 900 square kilometers and comprising six public hospitals.
NSW Police and NSW Health have not confirmed which hospital the man worked at.
Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, commander of the Cyber Crime Squad, said detectives “moved quickly to seize devices and recover data” after receiving an alert from NSW Health.
“These devices are currently being examined by experts to determine whether the data was shared in any other way. Initial investigations indicate that the data belongs to the individual, although it was accessed illegally,” said Superintendent Craft.
“Incidents such as this alleged access represent a clear breach of professional and social trust and such incidents will be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
The man was charged with accessing restricted data and given conditional bail to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday, August 19.
