Police are investigating a patient confidentiality breach after hospital notes were found by a member of the public on a pavement in Orkney.
NHS Orkney is also continuing its own investigation into the incident.
The confidential patient handover notes were found near Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall on July 15.
However, despite the health authority’s own initial probe it has not been established why the handover notes – which included the names of seven patients and details of their conditions and treatment – were taken outside the hospital.
NHS Orkney chief executive Cathie Cowan said: “It is not clear from our inquiries how this handover sheet came to be found outside the hospital, and whether any criminality was involved, and so the matter was referred to the police.
“Our investigations are also continuing and, in the meantime, all medical staff have been reminded of the need to ensure patient details are handled sensitively.”
NHS Orkney has described it as a “serious breach of patient confidentiality”.
The information had been printed off and it is thought dropped by a member of staff outside the hospital.
NHS Orkney is writing to all the patients and family members involved to apologise.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police are liaising with NHS Orkney following the report of a person finding papers containing patient details in Kirkwall.”