A registered nurse from northern Sydney has been charged after allegedly downloading the data of multiple patients without authorization. Police initiated an investigation into the matter on Wednesday, July 22, after receiving a report from NSW Health.
Detectives from Strike Force Civic searched a home in Frenchs Forest on Thursday, July 23, and seized electronic devices believed to contain patient information. A 59-year-old man, employed by the Northern Sydney Local Health District, was arrested and subsequently charged with accessing or modifying restricted data held in a computer.
He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Manly Local Court on August 19. The Northern Sydney Local Health District encompasses approximately 900 square kilometers and includes six public hospitals.
Commander of the Cybercrime Squad, Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, stated that police were alerted promptly by NSW Health upon identification of the breach. "The moment NSW Health alerted us to this breach, cybercrime squad detectives acted swiftly to seize the devices and recover the data," Craft said.
Specialists are examining the seized devices to determine if the data has been shared further. Initial inquiries suggest that while the data was accessed illegally, it appears to have been contained to the individual. Detective Superintendent Craft emphasized that such alleged access represents a significant breach of professional and community trust and will be treated with the utmost seriousness. Police are continuing to collaborate with NSW Health on the investigation.