In a recent court hearing, discussions centered around a class action lawsuit against the National Health Service (NHS) regarding the alleged mishandling of private patient information. The case, led by plaintiff Miss Griggs, raises critical questions about the NHS's duty to protect sensitive data stored on its systems and whether it breached that duty.

The lawsuit claims that the NHS failed to adequately safeguard personal information during a significant data breach that occurred between February and May 2021. During this period, criminal attackers accessed private documents for 80 days. However, the NHS did not notify the Department of Health and Human Services until five months later, and it took an additional ten and a half months before affected individuals, including Miss Griggs and approximately 170,000 others, were informed of the breach.

During the proceedings, the court sought clarification on the actual harm experienced by Miss Griggs due to the delay in notification. While the plaintiff's counsel argued that the risk of identity theft constituted harm, the court pressed for evidence of any tangible damage resulting from the delay.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for data protection practices within the NHS and set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on whether the NHS fulfilled its obligations to protect patient information and the potential consequences of its alleged failures.