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Up to 3,000 patients' info stolen Up to 3,000 patients' data stolen
(about 2 hours later)
The details of up to 3,000 NHS patients could have been on a computer stolen from a doctors' surgery.The details of up to 3,000 NHS patients could have been on a computer stolen from a doctors' surgery.
The laptop containing patients' names, addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers was taken from the surgery in Newport on 5 November.The laptop containing patients' names, addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers was taken from the surgery in Newport on 5 November.
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said the laptop was coded with passwords and had three levels of protection.Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said the laptop was coded with passwords and had three levels of protection.
However an NHS investigation is underway while the assembly government is facing calls for an inquiry.However an NHS investigation is underway while the assembly government is facing calls for an inquiry.
Initially Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust chief executive Hugh Ross announced 950 diabetic patients had definitely been affected by the incident.Initially Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust chief executive Hugh Ross announced 950 diabetic patients had definitely been affected by the incident.
Thy were taking part in a screening service for people with eye problemsThy were taking part in a screening service for people with eye problems
But Mr Ross later told BBC Wales's Dragon's Eye programme that information about as many as 2,000 or 3,000 patients could be on the laptop.But Mr Ross later told BBC Wales's Dragon's Eye programme that information about as many as 2,000 or 3,000 patients could be on the laptop.
The trust said the computer did not contain any national insurance numbers or medical information, but a link to a picture of patients' retinas was stored on it.The trust said the computer did not contain any national insurance numbers or medical information, but a link to a picture of patients' retinas was stored on it.
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
Some patients' NHS numbers were also on it and it said it was in the process of writing to those affected by the theft.Some patients' NHS numbers were also on it and it said it was in the process of writing to those affected by the theft.
Mr Ross told the programme: "What I'm concerned about is my staff were investigating it, but very slowly and that's not good enough and that's what we need to get to the bottom of.Mr Ross told the programme: "What I'm concerned about is my staff were investigating it, but very slowly and that's not good enough and that's what we need to get to the bottom of.
"I think it's a cock-up not a cover-up, frankly.""I think it's a cock-up not a cover-up, frankly."
He said the laptop was stolen from St Julian's GP surgery and added it was "possible that further patient records, which were due to be deleted, may still be stored on the computer.He said the laptop was stolen from St Julian's GP surgery and added it was "possible that further patient records, which were due to be deleted, may still be stored on the computer.
"The trust has no way of knowing if this is the case unless the laptop can be recovered.""The trust has no way of knowing if this is the case unless the laptop can be recovered."
The theft was reported to the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service (DRSS) and local police immediately, he said.The theft was reported to the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service (DRSS) and local police immediately, he said.
Mr Ross said he had begun an internal investigation into the service and its security measures.Mr Ross said he had begun an internal investigation into the service and its 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.
"This is an isolated incident and we are taking immediate action to try and ensure that it does not happen again.""This is an isolated incident and we are taking immediate action to try and ensure that it does not happen again."
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 patient data on the laptop included images of retinasThe patient data on the laptop included images of retinas
"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.
"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 spokesperson said: "It is the responsibility of the local NHS, in this case the trust, to manage issues such as this.
"However, we would expect the trust to review the case to identify if any further measures need to be put in place to reduce the risk of similar incidents in future."
Last month, the driver and vehicle licence agency, the DVLA, said human error led to at least 100 confidential details being sent to the wrong motorists.Last month, the driver and vehicle licence agency, 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.