BBC Scotland newsreader Jackie Bird and others received a letter from NHS Fife informing them the doctor may have read part of their electronic clinical record without having any reason to do so.

The ECS is intended to be used for the benefit of patients at times when they are in need of emergency care but may be unconscious or, for some other reason, unable to give doctors vital details of the medication they are taking.

In the current climate of reports of private individuals’ information being lost, computers and memory sticks going missing, any potential for breaching patient confidentiality causes concern.

Just last week NHS Tayside was rapped by the Information Commissioner over failures regarding medical records left behind when Strathmartine Hospital on the outskirts of Dundee was sold to a developer.

The health authority was warned it could face prosecution if there were any further breaches of the Data Protection Act.

Today a Ninewells Hospital-based accident and emergency consultant explained the ECS existed for the benefit of patients but was rarely used because there were usually other options available to the medical team seeking the information.

Mr Brodie Paterson said the ECS contained very few details, but included the patient’s current medication and any allergies.

“It is not going in to any delicate accounts of people’s past medical history,” said Mr Paterson.

“From an A&E point of view it is very useful if somebody is brought in unconscious or a very confused elderly person.

“During the daytime we can call GP surgeries, but out-of-hours we can’t call the patient’s own doctor.”

He said the system had not been used very often in his department. Even when people were brought in unconscious or confused there were usually relatives or somebody with them who could give the necessary information without the need to access the ECS.

“It is another computer system, another password, another thing to do and there are usually easier ways of finding out people’s medicines from their relatives before you start looking in another computer system.

“We use it rarely, but when we have had to use it, it is of benefit.”

Mr Paterson said A&E started accessing the ECS around May this year.

Prior to that everybody in Tayside was sent details of the ECS and informed they could notify the health authority if they did not wish to participate in the scheme.

“Everyone in Tayside got a leaflet and there was a very low opt out level,” said Mr Paterson.

“We as users are aware that all IT systems have an audit trail so we are aware somebody knows what we are doing.”

Professor Andrew Morris, NHS Tayside’s director of eHealth, said, “NHS Tayside regards the confidentiality and security of patient information to be of the highest importance.

“There is evidence the sharing of clinical information greatly enhances patient safety and quality of care.

“The Emergency Care Summary has been a vital tool in improving out of hours emergency health care services in Tayside.”