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| 300,000 prescriptions lost by NHS | 300,000 prescriptions lost by NHS |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Thousands of prescription forms, carrying the names and addresses of patients, go missing every year as they are transported around the NHS. | Thousands of prescription forms, carrying the names and addresses of patients, go missing every year as they are transported around the NHS. |
| The government has admitted that almost 300,000 have been lost or stolen in England since 1997. | The government has admitted that almost 300,000 have been lost or stolen in England since 1997. |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said handling of personal information was "serially incompetent". | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said handling of personal information was "serially incompetent". |
| But Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the number of prescriptions lost was less than 0.01% of the total issued. | But Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the number of prescriptions lost was less than 0.01% of the total issued. |
| This isn't just the odd mistake here and there, this is equivalent to 78 prescription forms lost every day since 1997 Andrew Lansley MPShadow health secretary | This isn't just the odd mistake here and there, this is equivalent to 78 prescription forms lost every day since 1997 Andrew Lansley MPShadow health secretary |
| The paper-based prescription system means that when issued to a patient, and handed over at a pharmacy, it must be sent as part of a batch to the Prescription Pricing Division for processing at one of their centres scattered around the country. | The paper-based prescription system means that when issued to a patient, and handed over at a pharmacy, it must be sent as part of a batch to the Prescription Pricing Division for processing at one of their centres scattered around the country. |
| In response to a Parliamentary Question from the Conservatives, Ms Primarolo said that between April 1997 and September last year, a total of 298,100 forms went missing in 220 separate incidents of loss or theft. | In response to a Parliamentary Question from the Conservatives, Ms Primarolo said that between April 1997 and September last year, a total of 298,100 forms went missing in 220 separate incidents of loss or theft. |
| There appears to be no year by year trend, either rising or falling - the highest number of forms lost was almost 69,000 in 2000/01, and the lowest 10,400 in 2005/06. | There appears to be no year by year trend, either rising or falling - the highest number of forms lost was almost 69,000 in 2000/01, and the lowest 10,400 in 2005/06. |
| The government said that in each case, the postal service, courier or police had been notified. | The government said that in each case, the postal service, courier or police had been notified. |
| However, Mr Lansley said the problem was "endemic". | However, Mr Lansley said the problem was "endemic". |
| "The government has been serially incompetent in looking after people's personal data," he said. | "The government has been serially incompetent in looking after people's personal data," he said. |
| "This isn't just the odd mistake here and there, this is equivalent to 78 prescription forms lost every day since 1997. | "This isn't just the odd mistake here and there, this is equivalent to 78 prescription forms lost every day since 1997. |
| "People need to feel like they can trust the government when they hand over personal data." | "People need to feel like they can trust the government when they hand over personal data." |
| 'No perfect solution' | 'No perfect solution' |
| A spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society - which represents pharmacists - said that prescription form loss, while rare, was inconvenient to pharmacists and could possibly see patient data falling into the wrong hands. | A spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society - which represents pharmacists - said that prescription form loss, while rare, was inconvenient to pharmacists and could possibly see patient data falling into the wrong hands. |
| "There are electronic systems on the way, but no system would be perfect, and there would still have to be a paper back-up somewhere." | "There are electronic systems on the way, but no system would be perfect, and there would still have to be a paper back-up somewhere." |
| A spokesman for the Department of Health said that clear guidance on "information governance" was available to the NHS, and a further review of security was underway. | A spokesman for the Department of Health said that clear guidance on "information governance" was available to the NHS, and a further review of security was underway. |
| "The NHS takes the protection of patient data extremely seriously." | "The NHS takes the protection of patient data extremely seriously." |
| Meanwhile, the government has announced that the price of prescriptions will increase by 25p to £7.10 from April in England. | |
| It comes as Scotland has started phasing out charging for prescriptions, while Wales already provides them free. |