An investigation is underway into how confidential medical details of 11 mental health patients from Albany Hospital were found by a visitor in the courtyard of the campus.
A double-sided paper document listing personal details, reason for admission and risk factors was found in the courtyard earlier this month.
The Department of Health is investigating how the list came to be left in the courtyard.
Health Minister John Day said it was unacceptable, but attributed it to human error.
“We certainly take it very seriously but on the other hand we recognise that human error sometimes occurs and that appears to have been the situation in this case,” he said.
“We are requiring a full investigation and report to be provided as to the circumstances as so to how this happened.”
Mr Day said he would seek advice as to whether the 11 patients should be notified.
The document, dated May 29, was picked up by a member of the public who, instead of returning it to the hospital, took the original to local Albany MLA Peter Watson’s office to raise her concerns.
However Mr Watson was not available and the woman refused to show anyone until she delivered the document to him on June 7.
Labor has shown copies of the document to the media with confidential information blacked out, but has not released any copies.
‘Just not good enough’, Albany MP says
Mr Watson said the discovery of the patient manifesto was a serious and unacceptable breach, and said he would raise his questions with the Minister in Parliament.
“These sort of things going out in the general community is just not good enough in this day and age,” he said.
“These are probably some of the most vulnerable people in our community and they’re not being looked after.”
Mr Day said there was no need for the document to be shown to the media.
“The records should have been returned to the hospital. Certainly no copies should have been made if indeed that’s what was made,” he said.
“The matter should have been dealt with internally within the hospital by appropriate counselling of the [responsible] staff member. There was no need for this to be in the public arena.”
The original document is due to be returned to the Department of Health by Mr Watson’s office.