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Three more state hospitals have been sanctioned for losing unencrypted IT equipment, in what should be a “stark reminder” to the NHS of its need to protect patient records. Baring its teeth, Britain’s privacy watchdog said it had forced the hospitals in Cambridge, Hull and London to encrypt all devices which store and transmit personal data. The formal undertakings, which also apply to a primary care trust, were imposed by the information commissioner after it found each had breached the Data Protection Act. They state that systems to restrict access to patient treatment details will be implemented to ensure unauthorised access and downloading of information no longer occurs. All four NHS bodies, collectively responsible for losing thousands of personal details, must also invest in training, “where necessary” to ensure staff use and store data legally. The actions point to the cause of the breaches: a memory stick, found at a car wash, offered not-to-be-downloaded details on 741 Cambridge University hospital patients. Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust lost a password-protected device containing the details of 6,360 patients, which displayed the password for access on an attached Post-It. A laptop and desktop computer at the North West London Hospital were stolen, were password-protected but were not encrypted, risking the confidentiality of 361 test results. And Hull and East Yorkshire hospital had to explain to 2,300 patients their medical treatment details had disappeared after the loss and theft of two unencrypted computers. Mick Gorrill, assistant information commissioner, said: “It is a matter of significant concern to us that in the last six months it has been necessary to take regulatory action against 14 NHS organisations for data breaches. “In these latest cases staff members have accessed patient records without authorisation and on occasions, have failed to adhere to policies to protect such information in transit.” The four bodies recognised the seriousness of their offences, he said, but “ultimately” the NHS’s organisations “risk losing the confidence of patients and their families.” May 1, 2009 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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