Mackay Base Hospital social worker Sarah Maree Simpson unlawfully accessed protected patient records

She has 17 years experience as a social worker, with most of that in acute mental health. Now she is charged with using a restricted computer.

A hospital social worker has pleaded guilty to using her position to unlawfully access protected information.

Sarah Maree Simpson has 17 years experience as a social worker, with most of that in acute mental health.

But on Wednesday the 40 year old pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to accessing a restricted computer between April 29 and July 1, 2019.

The court heard Simpson had been employed at Mackay Base Hospital in various roles including as a full-time social worker in the mental health acute care team since April 2010.

Sarah Maree Simpson was a social worker at Mackay Base Hospital when she unlawfully accessed protected medical records. Picture: Tony Martin

“Her role required her to access restricted computers containing restricted programs to review and record medical information about patients,” prosecutor senior constable Hannah Beaumont said.

The court heard when she began working at the hospital she signed a Queensland government declaration that specifically stated information about patients of a health facility must not be provided to a third person without the permission of that patient.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service received a complaint, the court heard, from a woman alleging Simpson “had used her position as a social worker within the hospital to unlawfully and inappropriately access medical records”.

Senior Constable Beaumont said the information was about the woman and her children.

The woman further alleged Simpson used the information from the restricted computer systems to write a letter “to the presiding judge in a family court matter” involving the woman and the father of her children.

Senior Constable Beaumont told the court the complaint was forwarded to the Crime and Corruption Commission and was then referred to the Queensland Police Service to investigate.

The court heard the woman provided a copy of the letter, allegedly written by Simpson, to MHHS, which gave a copy to police.

The court heard the letter allegedly written by Simpson stated she was a social worker with more than 17 years experience mostly in acute mental health and an authorised mental health practitioner under the Mental Health Act and that it also outlined Simpson’s “personal experiences with the woman”.

At this point Magistrate Damien Dwyer ordered the court be closed as the letter dealt with protected information that could not be heard in an open court.

The case was adjourned so Simpson’s solicitor Brigid Paterson, of Macrossan and Amiet, could source case law in relation to an appropriate penalty.

Matters will be mentioned again next month.