Hundreds of confidential reports go missing
Nearly 400 confidential records were reported missing in the West Midlands in just three months, according to new figures. A total of 387 patient and staff records went missing or were stolen between April and June this year.
Nearly 400 confidential records were reported missing in the West Midlands in just three months, according to new figures. A total of 387 patient and staff records went missing or were stolen between April and June this year.
Two other incidents, when unknown numbers of records went missing, also took place.
It brings the total number of known breaches of confidentiality within NHS West Midlands to more than 20,300 since January 2009.
The figures include a CD containing 300 records handed in to the Express & Star after being found, unencrypted and not password protected, at a bus stop near New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.
The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust said the disc had been made off-site without permission.
NHS West Midlands spokeswoman Helen Jackson said: "We take patient confidentiality very seriously."
Reported losses of data include a spreadsheet of patient details being emailed to the wrong address, several stolen laptops, and a rubbish sack of confidential waste going missing.
