A breach of privacy by a patient in Hutt Hospital 's emergency department has been referred to police . Hutt Valley District Health Board chief executive Graham Dyer has confirmed that on September 8 a patient was able to view information about other patients on an unattended computer . " As soon as this issue was discovered , the four computer workstations in emergency department assessment rooms were disconnected to prevent further incidents , " Dyer said . All other computers in the emergency department are located in staff - only areas . " We 're extremely disappointed that a patient who has come to our organisation seeking help for a medical condition has chosen to abuse the privacy of others . " As well as contacting police , the DHB discussed the incident with the privacy commissioner . " We take the privacy of our patients ' information very seriously , " Dyer said . All patients whose information might have been viewed had been contacted and a " full apology " offered . ;