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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Patient files stolen with laptop | Patient files stolen with laptop |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A laptop containing the personal details of several thousand patients has been stolen from the car of a senior hospital manager. | A laptop containing the personal details of several thousand patients has been stolen from the car of a senior hospital manager. |
| A patient told the BBC he received a letter saying the computer was taken on 18 June in Scotland from the car of a Colchester University Hospital manager. | A patient told the BBC he received a letter saying the computer was taken on 18 June in Scotland from the car of a Colchester University Hospital manager. |
| The details included names, dates of birth, postcodes and treatment plans. | The details included names, dates of birth, postcodes and treatment plans. |
| The Trust said police were called and it was co-operating with the inquiry. The manager concerned is suspended. | The Trust said police were called and it was co-operating with the inquiry. The manager concerned is suspended. |
| In the letter from chief executive Peter Murphy affected patients were told the computer was password-protected and only authorised staff could access the data. | In the letter from chief executive Peter Murphy affected patients were told the computer was password-protected and only authorised staff could access the data. |
| Unencrypted data | Unencrypted data |
| But the letter, shown to the BBC by patient Brian Loring, from Holland-on-Sea in Essex, added that since the data was not encrypted, there was a small chance patient details could be accessed. | But the letter, shown to the BBC by patient Brian Loring, from Holland-on-Sea in Essex, added that since the data was not encrypted, there was a small chance patient details could be accessed. |
| Mr Murphy said the Trust acknowledged that patient data should not be stored unencrypted on a laptop and he had previously written to staff with such computers reminding them of this. | Mr Murphy said the Trust acknowledged that patient data should not be stored unencrypted on a laptop and he had previously written to staff with such computers reminding them of this. |
| The Trust said in the letter the senior manager concerned had been suspended while the investigation continued. | The Trust said in the letter the senior manager concerned had been suspended while the investigation continued. |
| It apologised for any distress caused. | It apologised for any distress caused. |
| In a statement the Trust said they believed the data would "almost certainly" be wiped by a thief for a quick sale. | In a statement the Trust said they believed the data would "almost certainly" be wiped by a thief for a quick sale. |
| The statement went on to say: "We have also set up a helpline for patients to ring for further information and the number is on the letter sent to the patients affected. | The statement went on to say: "We have also set up a helpline for patients to ring for further information and the number is on the letter sent to the patients affected. |
| "If patients have not received this letter, their details are not on the lists stolen." | "If patients have not received this letter, their details are not on the lists stolen." |
| No personal data had been lost as all the files on the stolen computer were copies, said the Trust. | No personal data had been lost as all the files on the stolen computer were copies, said the Trust. |