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Laptop with patient details taken Laptop with patient details taken
(21 minutes later)
A laptop containing personal details of more than 1,300 patients has been stolen from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. A laptop containing personal details of almost 1,400 patients has been stolen from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
NHS Grampian said it was taken from a locked office cupboard in the gastro-intestinal area earlier this month.NHS Grampian said it was taken from a locked office cupboard in the gastro-intestinal area earlier this month.
It contains details of 1,392 patients including names and addresses, dates of birth, and coded clinical information. It contained details of 1,392 patients including names and addresses, dates of birth, and coded clinical information.
The data is said to be double password protected. Grampian Police have been called in and an appeal has been made for the laptop to be returned.The data is said to be double password protected. Grampian Police have been called in and an appeal has been made for the laptop to be returned.
NHS Grampian takes any breach of security seriously and letters have been sent to all the patients to alert them to the theft and apologise for the breach NHS Grampian NHS Grampian revealed on Thursday that the computer was stolen between 1730 BST on Wednesday 15 April and 0800 BST the following morning.
NHS Grampian revealed on Thursday that the computer was stolen between 1730 BST on Wednesday 15 April and 0800 the following morning. We do not know what the intentions are of people who steal these laptops Dr Roelf DijkhuizenNHS Grampian medical director
The laptop was stolen from a locked office in a locked corridor in the department and contained details of 1,392 patients including names and addresses, date of birth, and coded clinical information.
However, NHS Grampian said the data was double password protected and the clinical information was numerically coded and impossible to interpret without the original software.
It is a grey Hewlett Packard 6120, with an NHS Grampian identification number of NHSG4422 and serial number HUB60310Y8.It is a grey Hewlett Packard 6120, with an NHS Grampian identification number of NHSG4422 and serial number HUB60310Y8.
A spokesperson said: "It was stolen from a locked office in a locked corridor in the department and contains details of 1,392 patients including names and addresses, date of birth, and coded clinical information. Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, medical director for NHS Grampian, told BBC Scotland: "The laptop was stolen while it was kept behind locked doors.
"However, the data is double password protected and the clinical information is numerically coded and impossible to interpret without the original software. "We had to find out who those patients were and write to those patients to make them aware of what happened.
"Nevertheless, NHS Grampian takes any breach of security seriously and letters have been sent to all the patients to alert them to the theft and apologise for the breach." "We have asked the police to look into the situation."
He added: "We do not know what the intentions are of people who steal these laptops."
Further guidance is being issued to staff members to "reinforce existing data security policies and ensure that all computer records are appropriately secured".Further guidance is being issued to staff members to "reinforce existing data security policies and ensure that all computer records are appropriately secured".