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Patients' info on stolen laptop Patients' info on stolen laptop
(40 minutes later)
A laptop with the personal details of hundreds of NHS patients was stolen from a doctors surgery, it has emerged.A laptop with the personal details of hundreds of NHS patients was stolen from a doctors surgery, it has emerged.
It had the names, addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth of 950 diabetes patients at a Newport surgery.It had the names, addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth of 950 diabetes patients at a Newport surgery.
An NHS investigation is underway while the assembly government is facing calls for an inquiry.An NHS investigation is underway while the assembly government is facing calls for an inquiry.
Last month, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea said it had sent at least 100 sensitive documents to the wrong motorists.Last month, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea said it had sent at least 100 sensitive documents to the wrong motorists.
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust has confirmed it is to write to 950 diabetes patients whose details are known to have been on a laptop taken from St Julian's GP surgery on 5 November.Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust has confirmed it is to write to 950 diabetes patients whose details are known to have been on a laptop taken from St Julian's GP surgery on 5 November.
The trust told the BBC Wales programme Dragon's Eye that the data was password protected but not encrypted but did not contain any national insurance numbers or medical information.The trust told the BBC Wales programme Dragon's Eye that the data was password protected but not encrypted but did not contain any national insurance numbers or medical information.
However, the record links to an image of patients's retina and in some cases included patient NHS numbers.However, the record links to an image of patients's retina and in some cases included patient NHS numbers.
It is yet another disturbing development which will further undermine public confidence in measures to protect sensitive information Jonathan Morgan AMIt is yet another disturbing development which will further undermine public confidence in measures to protect sensitive information Jonathan Morgan AM
In a statement, trust chief executive Hugh Ross said the loss was an "isolated incident" which had been reported to the police and the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service (DRSS).In a statement, trust chief executive Hugh Ross said the loss was an "isolated incident" which had been reported to the police and the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service (DRSS).
He added that it was possible the records of other patients may have been stored on the machine.He added that it was possible the records of other patients may have been stored on the machine.
He said: "I have initiated an internal investigation into all aspects of the service, including our security measures.He said: "I have initiated an internal investigation into all aspects of the service, including our security measures.
"I would like to offer a sincere apology to all patients affected by this theft and reassure them that there are very strong security measures on all our IT systems to prevent confidential information being accessed.""I would like to offer a sincere apology to all patients affected by this theft and reassure them that there are very strong security measures on all our IT systems to prevent confidential information being accessed."
The Conservative health spokesperson Jonathan Morgan AM said: "This is absolutely appalling and comes hard on the heals of the lost data scandal at HM Revenue and Customs and recent problems at the DVLA.The Conservative health spokesperson Jonathan Morgan AM said: "This is absolutely appalling and comes hard on the heals of the lost data scandal at HM Revenue and Customs and recent problems at the DVLA.
The laptop is thought to be have been stolen by an opportunist thief
"It is yet another disturbing development which will further undermine public confidence in measures to protect sensitive information."It is yet another disturbing development which will further undermine public confidence in measures to protect sensitive information.
Confidential
"We need a full inquiry to discover how this could have happened, what steps have been taken to protect any potentially sensitive information, and whether measures are being put in place to prevent a repeat incident.""We need a full inquiry to discover how this could have happened, what steps have been taken to protect any potentially sensitive information, and whether measures are being put in place to prevent a repeat incident."
The DRSS is a Welsh Assembly Government-funded service managed by the Cardiff NHS trust.The DRSS is a Welsh Assembly Government-funded service managed by the Cardiff NHS trust.
It has screened 150,000 patients around Wales whose information is stored on a central database.It has screened 150,000 patients around Wales whose information is stored on a central database.
An assembly government spokesman declined to comment on an "operational" matter.An assembly government spokesman declined to comment on an "operational" matter.
Last month, the DVLA said human error led to at least 100 confidential details being sent to the wrong motorists.Last month, the DVLA said human error led to at least 100 confidential details being sent to the wrong motorists.
The mistake happened when the agency sent out 1,215 questionnaires including drivers' names, addresses, birth dates, licence numbers and motoring offences records.The mistake happened when the agency sent out 1,215 questionnaires including drivers' names, addresses, birth dates, licence numbers and motoring offences records.