Central Finland wellbeing services sends misdirected patient letters and messages

The Central Finland Wellbeing Services County has repeatedly sent medical appointment notifications to the wrong recipients, raising concerns over patient data security, Yle reports.

Pirjo Kokko, a resident of Jyväskylä, received four misdirected health service messages within weeks this spring. The errors included a reminder for a cancer surgery appointment, a prostate examination invitation, and a dental clinic notification—none intended for her.

In early March, Kokko received a text message reminding her of a scheduled cancer surgery, causing alarm as she had recently undergone mammography screening due to a family history of breast cancer. After contacting the hospital, she learned the message was sent in error. Later that day, she received a letter confirming her mammogram showed no signs of cancer.

Days afterward, Kokko received a detailed letter about prostate issues and an examination invitation meant for another patient. Though the letter lacked the intended recipient’s personal data, she reported the mistake to the wellbeing services county. By Easter, she had received two additional erroneous notifications, including an imaging appointment reminder without contact details.

Raija Harju-Kivinen, customer service director for the Central Finland Wellbeing Services County, acknowledged that while such errors are rare, they do occur. She urged recipients of misdirected messages to report them immediately via phone or the online feedback system. Last year, the county received around 80,000 feedback submissions, some of which are used to improve communication processes.

A previous Yle investigation revealed 224 data breach reports in the county between 2023 and 2025. Harju-Kivinen emphasized that prompt reporting helps mitigate risks to patient confidentiality.