Nurse 'revealed secret abortion'

Reports that an NHS nurse told a relative about a teenager's secret abortion have prompted an...

Reports that an NHS nurse told a relative about a teenager's secret abortion have prompted an internal review at a Luton hospital.

Newspapers reported the nurse allegedly recognised the 16-year-old girl when she needed emergency treatment for side effects of the abortion, and telephoned her aunt.

When the girl's devout Catholic mother heard about the procedure she reportedly kicked her daughter out.

A Luton and Dunstable Hospital spokeswoman said: "We are sorry to hear the distressing story that a patient has reported to the media.

"We encourage the patient to raise this matter directly with the hospital so that we can look further into the allegations.

"All allegations of this nature are reviewed internally and any breach is dealt with under our disciplinary conduct and performance procedure."

The hospital asserted that all staff sign a confidentiality declaration and all NHS employees are legally required to maintain patient confidentiality.

"Luton and Dunstable Hospital has a strong track record in protecting the privacy and dignity of patients and we wish to reassure our patients that any breach of confidentiality is of the utmost concern for the hospital and one which we would regard as a very serious matter," said the spokeswoman.

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