A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Nova Scotia Health.

Nearly 2,700 patients of St. Martha’s hospital in Antigonish had personal health information inappropriately accessed by an employee last year.

Wagners Law Firm in Halifax filed the class-action on May 7 in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Lawyer Maddy Carter says they’ve heard from 159 patients so far.

“People feel like their trust in our healthcare system has been eroded. They’re lacking confidence that their sensitive, personal health information has been protected in the way that they expected,” said Carter.

She says many have real concerns about how the information may be used.

Nova Scotia Health declined to comment.

They fired the employee in November after an investigation.

Carter says the first step in court will be the hearing of a certification motion to determine whether the litigation should be certified, and may proceed as a class proceeding.

If certified, the case would proceed to a trial.

She’s hopeful they’ll be in court within the next six months to a year.