Waikato hospital is investigating how radiology records managed to be found in Hamilton streets several kilometres away.
Copies of 10 documents faxed by doctors have been found in rubbish due for collection near the Claudelands bridge in Hamilton East.
The letters contain the names and addresses of patients, as well as details of their medical conditions.
It is not known how many more there could be.
The hospital says they should have been destroyed. It believes the care outlined in the documents has already been actioned, so their prime concern is about the breach of confidentiality.
Doctor thought to be responsible
Waikato District Health Board believes it was a doctor who left copies of the confidential letters lying around.
DHB chief operating officer Jan Adams told Summer Report she believes a clinician left them in the rubbish at her flat.
The doctor is on leave, but will be spoken to as soon as she returns from holiday.
