Public Notice – December 14, 2021
Labrador-Grenfell Health is advising the public of an update regarding the October 2021 breach of privacy. Through the ongoing investigation, it was determined that some additional information was impacted.
This includes:
- Social Insurance Numbers (SIN)
- Provincially, a total of 2,514 patients’ SIN numbers were breached. Of those 1, 025 are living.
- In Labrador-Grenfell health region, there are 23 patients affected. Of those, 19 are living.
- Affected patients will receive a direct notification letter from the associated health authority.
- These patients will be offered five years of credit monitoring and identify theft protection at no cost.
- Personal health information of patients who had specialized bloodwork and specimens collected at any RHA or private clinic, where the blood/specimens were analyzed by Eastern Health in the past 11 years.
- This includes COVID-19 testing that was processed in the provincial lab at Eastern Health.
- This breach does not include any test results, but the personal health information provided at registration.
- Any patient who had their personal health information impacted in this breach can enroll for two years of credit monitoring and identify theft at no cost.
Additionally, the investigation has determined the date range for the breach, for both Labrador-Grenfell Health patients and employees (current and former), is for the last eight years, not nine as previously reported.
- There is no evidence that banking information was involved.
- Employee information involved includes name, address, contact information and SIN.
- Patient information involved includes name, address, health care number (MCP), reason for visit, the health care provider, phone number, birth date, email address for notifications, in-patient/out-patient status, maiden name and marital status.
Credit monitoring and identify theft protection services through Equifax are available for five years, free of charge, for any employee or patient who had their SINs breached and two years for patients who had their personal health information breached.
To access Equifax credit monitoring services, please call 1-833-718-3021.
For more information on the privacy breach, please visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/information-and-updates-on-cyber-incident/
Everyone is encouraged to remain vigilant and take steps to protect their information. If you notice any unusual activity in any of your accounts or your account statements, please contact your service providers such as your bank, or report this activity to the RCMP/RNC.
The investigation is still ongoing and continues to determine the exact nature of the information involved. As new details are identified, we will continue to provide additional updates in conjunction with the Provincial Government.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Labrador-Grenfell Health privacy representative at privacy@lghealth.ca.
Media Contact:
Amanda MacNeil
Regional Director of Communications, Labrador-Grenfell Health