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Call to rethink NHS database plan Call to rethink NHS database plan
(about 5 hours later)
Plans for a national health database of should be reconsidered after it emerged nine NHS trusts lost patients' confidential records, the Tories say.Plans for a national health database of should be reconsidered after it emerged nine NHS trusts lost patients' confidential records, the Tories say.
It comes after the Department of Health admitted 168,000 people had been affected by the data losses.It comes after the Department of Health admitted 168,000 people had been affected by the data losses.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley says the planned single database of 50 million patient details would be less secure than a network of local ones.Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley says the planned single database of 50 million patient details would be less secure than a network of local ones.
But the DoH says the new database would help avoid data security breaches.But the DoH says the new database would help avoid data security breaches.
'High security''High security'
The NHS losses emerged after checks across government departments were ordered after the details of 25 million child benefit claimants were lost.The NHS losses emerged after checks across government departments were ordered after the details of 25 million child benefit claimants were lost.
BBC heath correspondent Carole Walker says the latest revelation is an embarrassment for the government. BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says the latest revelation is an embarrassment for the government.
But the DoH has indicated the episode will not prevent its plans for a national patient database from going ahead.But the DoH has indicated the episode will not prevent its plans for a national patient database from going ahead.
A spokesperson said: "These breaches are in no way related to the National Programme for IT (NPfIT); indeed the NPfIT will help avoid such incidents, as it has particularly strong data protection rules and the highest standards of security control."A spokesperson said: "These breaches are in no way related to the National Programme for IT (NPfIT); indeed the NPfIT will help avoid such incidents, as it has particularly strong data protection rules and the highest standards of security control."
Encrypted dataEncrypted data
The DoH has confirmed that one of the breaches involved the loss of names and addresses of 160,000 children by City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, after a disc failed to arrive at its destination at St Leonards Hospital in east London.The DoH has confirmed that one of the breaches involved the loss of names and addresses of 160,000 children by City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, after a disc failed to arrive at its destination at St Leonards Hospital in east London.
But it said the data had been encrypted to an "extremely high level of security".But it said the data had been encrypted to an "extremely high level of security".
A DoH spokesperson said: "We believe that an additional 8,000 patients in total may have been affected but even amongst these only a small proportion involves some clinical data, and there is no evidence that this has fallen into the wrong hands."A DoH spokesperson said: "We believe that an additional 8,000 patients in total may have been affected but even amongst these only a small proportion involves some clinical data, and there is no evidence that this has fallen into the wrong hands."
NINE TRUSTS INVOLVED City and Hackney Bolton Royal Hospital Sutton and Merton Sefton Merseyside Mid-Essex Care Trust Norfolk and Norwich Gloucester Partnership Foundation TrustMaidstone and Tunbridge Wells East and North HertfordshireNINE TRUSTS INVOLVED City and Hackney Bolton Royal Hospital Sutton and Merton Sefton Merseyside Mid-Essex Care Trust Norfolk and Norwich Gloucester Partnership Foundation TrustMaidstone and Tunbridge Wells East and North Hertfordshire
It said investigations were under way and action would be taken against anyone who had failed to fulfil their responsibilities under data protection laws.It said investigations were under way and action would be taken against anyone who had failed to fulfil their responsibilities under data protection laws.
The other data trusts involved are Bolton Royal Hospital, Sutton and Merton PCT, Sefton Merseyside PCT, Mid-Essex Care Trust, and Norfolk and Norwich.The other data trusts involved are Bolton Royal Hospital, Sutton and Merton PCT, Sefton Merseyside PCT, Mid-Essex Care Trust, and Norfolk and Norwich.
The East and North Hertfordshire Trust reported a loss but has since found its missing data.The East and North Hertfordshire Trust reported a loss but has since found its missing data.
A further disc, lost by Gloucester Partnership Foundation Trust, consisted of archive records relating to patients treated 40 years ago - none of whom is still alive.A further disc, lost by Gloucester Partnership Foundation Trust, consisted of archive records relating to patients treated 40 years ago - none of whom is still alive.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has reported two breaches - meaning that 10 cases have occurred in total.Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has reported two breaches - meaning that 10 cases have occurred in total.
The losses involved data stored on laptop computers and data sticks.The losses involved data stored on laptop computers and data sticks.
Michael Summers, of the Patients' Association, said the security breaches were "very serious".Michael Summers, of the Patients' Association, said the security breaches were "very serious".
He told BBC News: "Patients provide confidential information to their GPs and to hospital doctors - information that no-one else has - on the basis that it will always remain confidential.He told BBC News: "Patients provide confidential information to their GPs and to hospital doctors - information that no-one else has - on the basis that it will always remain confidential.
"And suddenly we discover that it's not confidential after all. It gets leaked in one form or another and is lost.""And suddenly we discover that it's not confidential after all. It gets leaked in one form or another and is lost."
Losses 'unacceptable'Losses 'unacceptable'
Roy Lilley, a former NHS trust chairman, said the losses were unacceptable: "The NHS has a very good encrypted secure system for sending data around the system and I can't see why sub-sets of data are being carted round on a memory stick."Roy Lilley, a former NHS trust chairman, said the losses were unacceptable: "The NHS has a very good encrypted secure system for sending data around the system and I can't see why sub-sets of data are being carted round on a memory stick."
But health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "What it is really important to stress is how important patient security and confidentiality is and how each of these trusts is moving to deal with this.But health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "What it is really important to stress is how important patient security and confidentiality is and how each of these trusts is moving to deal with this.
"And given we have hundreds and hundreds of trusts I think that patients should be confident that their information is being held appropriately.""And given we have hundreds and hundreds of trusts I think that patients should be confident that their information is being held appropriately."
Police are still searching for two computer discs containing the names, addresses, dates of birth and bank account details of every child benefit claimant after it emerged they had been lost in the post by HM Revenue and Customs in November.Police are still searching for two computer discs containing the names, addresses, dates of birth and bank account details of every child benefit claimant after it emerged they had been lost in the post by HM Revenue and Customs in November.
Then a week ago it was revealed the details of three million learner drivers had also been lost after being sent to Iowa in America's mid-west.Then a week ago it was revealed the details of three million learner drivers had also been lost after being sent to Iowa in America's mid-west.