Cliff fall postie had mental health issues
Tuesday 22nd February 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
Alderney postman Jamie Spandler with wife Patcharin and son Nicholas.
AN ALDERNEY postman who died after a treacherous cliff-top rescue had been receiving mental health treatment at the Castel Hospital three days previously, police revealed yesterday.
Jamie Spandler, 44, was rescued from the bottom of Blue Cove Bay on Friday evening.
He was conscious, but died in the early hours of Saturday as a transfer to Guernsey was being arranged. He had internal and external injuries.
At a media briefing yesterday, Inspector Toni Read and Detective Sergeant Clare Cuthbert confirmed that the family man had been released from the Castel Hospital on Tuesday 15 February.
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Very sad. Let’s hope he is now at peace.
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@ Di – yes.
I have now read the Press article and I do not think it was at all appropriate for our police force to give out such personal details about Jamie Spandler. As a possible patient at Castel hospital, or, the fact that he was subject to criminal matters ivestigation, is surely a case of data protection and, regardless of “media briefing”, shouldn’t this have been confidential knowledge.
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Stiletto:
I agree, why would it be within the police remit to release this information, and what relevance is it to anything. Seems a bit poor to me.
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What a tragic story and I agree with Stiletto, in no way should these details have been released and certainly do not think it should make headlines in the GP.What is anyone going to gain knowing all this.
My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
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Yes it is definitely a breach of the privacy act. Giving people that information is blatantly telling or suggesting to the public that he committed suicide -whether that is right or wrong. Its really out of order… and what would be their motivation? Perhaps to take pressure of the failed police rescue?
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This is tragedy enough without splashing intimate details of his life over the front of the local paper. It is not a matter of public interest, only private concern for those close to him.
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I agree with all of the above, It is not fair or right to reveal this information, have some respect for this poor guy and his family. everyone tried so hard to help him get rescued off the cliff and have to thank them for being up all night helping him. May he now rest in peace.
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Wil – which Privacy Act would that be?
I agree with the sentiments above that it is a shame for personal details to be revealed but we do not know the circumstances of why they are revealed. I suspect that this sort of event requires an inquest, in which these details are relevant in determining what may have happened (officially, not for the idle interest of the public).
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Stiletto and the others I agree also did we really need to know his personal I feel sorry that family and friend had to read about it.
May he RIP .
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I entirely agree with what is being said above about the appropriateness of the information released surrounding this sad affair, however its my understanding that the Data Protection laws does not apply to people have died.
It would have been nice to see a little restraint and respect shown to those Mr Spandler leaves behind
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Monday’s news of Jamie’s tragic passing was enough. I always found him to be a pleasant, entertaining and friendly chap.
Unfortunately the circumstances surrounding his demise will prove somewhat complex to unravel with various agencies feeling it prudent to cover their backs. This unusual release of information is just the beginning I fear.
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I haven’t really read the story just because I knew him and I dont want to have to remember him like they will probably write. He was a nice bloke and had a really lovely family. He always smiled and waved to everyone as he drove around delivering the post. I bet the article didnt say that!
May you rest in peace Jamie
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Terry – Sorry, it happens often when one works across borders. Its the Data Protection Act.
There is no doubt that it is sensitive personal data. The sensitive personal data may have been collected and processed by the police to serve in police dealings and their own case management. This data should not be further processed – one could say that giving the data to the media is a further processing of this data, a secondary use of the data and it is this which is a breach of the act. Of course if it is in the public interest to disclose this data then exemptions apply. So is the disclosure of this persons mental health in the public interest? That is the key question. My interpretation is that disclosure for public interest is more in line with our safety rather than for our idle interest but like Terry says we don’t really know the reasons for why this information was revealed, I haven’t read the full article so perhaps they state something later which makes it relevant.
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tragic news
a complete failure in the mental health system,if someone had been doing there job properly he would still be with his family
a friend who will be missed!!
people are accountable for this sad affair, a system that should answer his cries for help have failed him ,his family and his friends. way to go guernsey !!!!!!!!
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Wil,
No, it often happens when people (you in this case) decide that a quick Googling of a topic makes them an expert. It is not called the Data Protection Act (Guernsey does not have Acts, it has Laws – but then I guess Wiki did not tell you that).
It is also a shame that your first post talks of a failed police rescue – what a silly comment. The rescue was wholly successful, the man died following the rescue whilst in the hands of the medical profession who were doing all they could to save him (one may assume from the impact injury).
Anyway, all of that said I think we do agree that in essence, be it for legal reasons or not, it does seem unnecessary for the police to have revealed this information. Although, I suppose it is possible the family gave permission for this to be handed to the press.
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In such a small community as Alderney I would think that the personal circumstances of this well liked postman would already have been general knowledge
I see that the Press report states that the Police CONFIRMED that the family man had been released from the Castel Hospital on Tuesday 15 February
That suggests to me that the intimate details were put in question form directly to the Police officer who had the choice of confirming this general knowledge,denying it which would have made them look foolish,or replying with a no comment type of answer which in effect would be taken as a confirmation
A dammed if they do and dammed if they don’t situation
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Sorry Truth Man, I didnt read the whole article (just the online version) and I admited that in a previous post. I have worked intensively with Data Protection and Privacy in the health services (including forensic) in other countries and I also previously admitted that it was in other countries – not Guernsey. So no it wasnt a quick google, I was going straight off memory (was a few years back now) and frankly i dont have the time to do a thorough research into Guernsey Law for these purposes. It is my understanding that in some cases Guernsey will refer to UK and even Australian Law for matters that it itself does not cover. If Guernsey does have a “Data Protection Law” then instead of shooting off perhaps you can enlighten us in this area? If Guernsey laws do not cover this area then they may indeed refer to the Data Protection Act in the UK. In my view its just unnecessary to release these details… but I feel the same in many cases where they also release the persons address and picture of their house etc. In my view its an area which needs to be looked at.
In any case it is a very sad story and I feel really sorry for his family. Its a tragedy. He seemed to have a lot of friends and I hope the community will rally around the family and give them the support they need in this difficult time.
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Ray – I agree entirely. People are too quick to criticise the authorities on the basis of a GP report.
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Wil
You ask for enlightenment on data protection laws in this sad matter.
You seem to have missed the very appropriate post of Gwen (23 February 11.46am that makes the point that data protection laws apply to living persons.
So, it comes down to a question of personal feelings on this matter. Was it necessary for the Press to make the reference to Castel Hospital? Probably not.
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@ Ray
I think that GEP’s quote ” police confirmed”, etc, is merely media speak, and just relates to an answer to a question; I could liken it to buying fresh tuna, or cod today, being randomly interviewed and, shown to say I “admitted” to buying an endangered species.
If Mr Spandler’s inquest is made public knowledge, (I sincerely hope it won’t be) then that is surely the time for this type of information to be bought forward, if appropriate.
In UK, if you have been party to a referral by a GP for further treatment, ie, mental help, and so are under medical care, an inquest is not always needed.
I hope his family will recover from his problems in life being made public knowledge, and wish them all well in recovering from his tragic death.
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How very kind of the Police to share his medical records.
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just a thought to everyone who reads this comment, read the Alderney Journal and see what a lovely family bloke he really was and not judge from his medical history that most people did not understand.
at least the locals are here to support and remember Jamie for who he was and not judge from a stupid article.
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This is such a tragic story and it has been handled in the most dreadful and inhumane way. I think, though, that Guernsey is rather like Spain. Its laws depend on the administrator’s mood at the time and, of course, the subject to which the law/s refer. Can’t see Lyndon Trott’s personal history being spread all over the media though God knows it could probably do with an airing.
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