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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Medics 'put patient data at risk' | Medics 'put patient data at risk' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Doctors are warning patient data is at risk after a snapshot poll of colleagues showed lapses in security. | Doctors are warning patient data is at risk after a snapshot poll of colleagues showed lapses in security. |
| Two unnamed doctors surveyed their colleagues at a top London hospital and found three quarters carried unsecured memory sticks with confidential data. | Two unnamed doctors surveyed their colleagues at a top London hospital and found three quarters carried unsecured memory sticks with confidential data. |
| The two medics said the practices were likely to be similar elsewhere. | The two medics said the practices were likely to be similar elsewhere. |
| Hospital doctors routinely carry memory sticks containing names, diagnoses, X-rays and treatment details - but these should be protected by passwords. | Hospital doctors routinely carry memory sticks containing names, diagnoses, X-rays and treatment details - but these should be protected by passwords. |
| The pair who carried out the survey spoke to 105 doctors at their hospital. In total, 92 held memory sticks with 79 of them containing confidential information. | The pair who carried out the survey spoke to 105 doctors at their hospital. In total, 92 held memory sticks with 79 of them containing confidential information. |
| This survey exposes the chaos inherent in Labour's approach to data security Mike Penning, shadow health minister | This survey exposes the chaos inherent in Labour's approach to data security Mike Penning, shadow health minister |
| Just five of those had passwords, the Health Service Journal reported. | Just five of those had passwords, the Health Service Journal reported. |
| Hospitals issue doctors with chip-and-pin cards to access NHS databases and patient records. | Hospitals issue doctors with chip-and-pin cards to access NHS databases and patient records. |
| But doctors are increasingly relying on memory sticks to store data they would have traditionally written down in notebooks. | But doctors are increasingly relying on memory sticks to store data they would have traditionally written down in notebooks. |
| These contain information such as patient names and date of births, as well as medical information. | These contain information such as patient names and date of births, as well as medical information. |
| There are no specific rules about the practice, but the Department of Health guidance and data protection laws say patient data needs to be keep secure. | There are no specific rules about the practice, but the Department of Health guidance and data protection laws say patient data needs to be keep secure. |
| The survey comes after a series of security scandals have dogged the government in recent months. | The survey comes after a series of security scandals have dogged the government in recent months. |
| An inquiry was launched last month after a computer memory stick containing information on thousands of criminals was lost. | An inquiry was launched last month after a computer memory stick containing information on thousands of criminals was lost. |
| Missing | Missing |
| In June documents relating to al-Qaeda in Pakistan and the security situation in Iraq were left on a train by a Cabinet Office intelligence official and later handed to the BBC. | In June documents relating to al-Qaeda in Pakistan and the security situation in Iraq were left on a train by a Cabinet Office intelligence official and later handed to the BBC. |
| And in November last year, Chancellor Alistair Darling admitted to MPs that computer discs holding personal information on 25m people and 7.2m families had gone missing. | And in November last year, Chancellor Alistair Darling admitted to MPs that computer discs holding personal information on 25m people and 7.2m families had gone missing. |
| The doctors, writing in the Health Service Journal, said the findings were "worrying". | The doctors, writing in the Health Service Journal, said the findings were "worrying". |
| They said: "Unless urgent action is taken it is surely only a matter of time before the NHS adds its name to the above headlines." | They said: "Unless urgent action is taken it is surely only a matter of time before the NHS adds its name to the above headlines." |
| Shadow health minister Mike Penning said the government had a shocking record on data security. | Shadow health minister Mike Penning said the government had a shocking record on data security. |
| "Patients rightly expect their personal details to be protected. Unfortunately, this survey exposes the chaos inherent in Labour's approach to data security." | "Patients rightly expect their personal details to be protected. Unfortunately, this survey exposes the chaos inherent in Labour's approach to data security." |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "Any breach of patient security is unacceptable. | A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "Any breach of patient security is unacceptable. |
| "We have urged the Health Service Journal to provide details of their survey to the relevant trust so they can take appropriate action to protect patient confidentiality." | "We have urged the Health Service Journal to provide details of their survey to the relevant trust so they can take appropriate action to protect patient confidentiality." |