World | UK
Poor security caused loss of patients' data
The full details of how National Health Service (NHS) staff have lost confidential data on thousands of Londoners can now be revealed.
- Evening Standard
- Published: 23:51 November 27, 2008
London: The full details of how National Health Service (NHS) staff have lost confidential data on thousands of Londoners can now be revealed.
An investigation has found a total of 55 "serious" cases were reported over the past two years, including laptop thefts, with the private data of more than 40,000 people potentially exposed.
In many cases, medical records and home addresses were lost by staff taking home memory sticks and CDs or leaving patient notes in public places.
One of the most high profile incidents was the theft of six laptop computers from St George's Hospital in Tooting in June this year. Other blunders include staff throwing out a filing cabinet and computers containing patients' details and faxing confidential data to a member of the public.
It has prompted calls for a shake-up in security over the handling of patient data and for ministers to scrap plans for a national computerised database.
"The Lib-Dems have exposed the NHS's persistent failure to take patient data seriously," a Patients Association spokeswoman said.
"The database is not performing as we were promised."
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
