Nurse sues HSE claiming row over password left her with ‘broken heart syndrome’

She has sued her former employer the HSE claiming she was allegedly told she would be put on report when she would not give her password to access files. The 68-year-old woman from Portlaoise is also claiming she was allegedly forced to retire early nine months after the alleged incident in October 2016 at a clinic in Bray, Co. Wicklow, where she helped clients with addiction issues.

The alleged encounter, which is disputed by the HSE, the court heard occurred as the HSE merged two services and were to shut down one computerised system and needed to access the system in the Bray office to download client nursing files and notes and archive others.

The HSE has denied all claims and contends there was a request to access the computer system and when it was not given the HSE officer withdrew. The HSE contends the alleged agitation was on Ms McCann’s side.

Opening the case, Andrew Sexton SC for Ms McCann told the court the temporary heart condition can occur when a person is placed on unexpected stress. He said HSE policy documents say passwords must not be shared and Ms McCann had not adopted a fanciful approach to the password but was adhering to her duties as an employee.

He said Ms McCann had gone from being in a nice happy job to her life being turned upside down.

In evidence, Ms McCann said a HSE officer had come into her office and said she needed to access the system and wanted Ms McCann’s password.

Ms McCann told Mr Justice Tony O’Connor

I was taken aback. I said I can’t give the password.. She stood and said, ‘I need the password.’ I said I can’t give it to you; I am not allowed to give it. I started feeling a headache.

The HSE officer, she added, stepped back and she said she was putting Ms McCann on report and ringing nurse management.

“I said go on and put me on report. I can’t give you my password.” Ms McCann said she was very stressed and shaky and her head was pounding. She said she told the HSE officer to get out of her room and she was feeling chest pain.

She said when she rang a nursing manager about the alleged incident, the manager asked why she didn’t give the password. ”I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” she said. 

She drove home towards Portlaoise and attended the A&E department of her local hospital as she had chest pain, she said.

Cross-examined by HSE Counsel Michael Tuite SC, Ms McCann said it was “absolutely not true” “ she was the source of aggravation and she denied she was hostile from the get-go.

The hearing continues.