NHS doctors and nurses increasingly rely on WhatsApp to share confidential patient information, including test results and medical documents, leading experts to raise alarms about potential privacy and data security risks. Frontline NHS staff describe the platform as a vital communication tool, particularly as official IT systems often lag in efficiency.
The news follows the government's announcement on Monday that it plans to digitise patient medical records through the NHS app. While ministers maintain a strong commitment to data protection, many, including NHS workers, believe the extensive use of WhatsApp has been overlooked.
NHS England issued guidelines in 2020 endorsing mobile messaging in emergencies while cautioning staff about maintaining confidentiality. The guidelines recommend that clinical decisions made through the app are documented in formal health records and advise staff to delete original messages. However, compliance with these guidelines is patchy, and potential oversights, such as former team members still accessing sensitive information, further exacerbate the risks.
One NHS doctor explained the use of WhatsApp within the NHS culture is down to necessity and the interest of patient care, but he cautioned that all it would take is one significant incident, such as a data breach or a patient's adverse outcome for the public to become aware of the extent of the practice.
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