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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Health records dumped in landfill | Health records dumped in landfill |
| (1 day later) | |
| The confidential records of more than 3,000 patients were mistakenly dumped in landfill, it has emerged. | The confidential records of more than 3,000 patients were mistakenly dumped in landfill, it has emerged. |
| Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) has written to about 3,200 patients after paper notes detailing their care were dumped rather than shredded or burned. | Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) has written to about 3,200 patients after paper notes detailing their care were dumped rather than shredded or burned. |
| A statement from the trust said all patients had been contacted about the matter and it has provided information lines for anyone worried. | A statement from the trust said all patients had been contacted about the matter and it has provided information lines for anyone worried. |
| Roger Goss, from Patient Concern, said it was a "ridiculous" error. | Roger Goss, from Patient Concern, said it was a "ridiculous" error. |
| "We are all told that we should shred our important records and documents to protect our personal identity, so how the heck does a hospital not realise that it has a responsibility to do this?," he said. | "We are all told that we should shred our important records and documents to protect our personal identity, so how the heck does a hospital not realise that it has a responsibility to do this?," he said. |
| There is no adverse impact on the care and treatment of patients Bolton Primary Care Trust | There is no adverse impact on the care and treatment of patients Bolton Primary Care Trust |
| The PCT's chief executive, Tim Evans, said it was "sincerely sorry". | The PCT's chief executive, Tim Evans, said it was "sincerely sorry". |
| A statement from the trust said the patients affected had either attended the anticoagulant (anti-blood clotting) clinic at the Waters Meeting Health Centre between September 2007 and January 2008, or received a visit from the out-of-hours GP services between December 2007 and January 2008. | |
| The statement read: "As soon as the problem was discovered actions were put in place to prevent a repeat of the mistake. | The statement read: "As soon as the problem was discovered actions were put in place to prevent a repeat of the mistake. |
| "The records that were disposed of were copies of information that had been routinely transferred to computer. | "The records that were disposed of were copies of information that had been routinely transferred to computer. |
| "There is no adverse impact on the care and treatment of patients." | "There is no adverse impact on the care and treatment of patients." |
| 'Strongest standards' | 'Strongest standards' |
| A spokesman for NHS Connecting for Health, which is overseeing the creation of electronic patient records, said: "After any data loss such as this, sensitivity about the storage of medical records is understandably an issue. | A spokesman for NHS Connecting for Health, which is overseeing the creation of electronic patient records, said: "After any data loss such as this, sensitivity about the storage of medical records is understandably an issue. |
| He added: "The old paper system cannot properly service a 21st Century healthcare system. | He added: "The old paper system cannot properly service a 21st Century healthcare system. |
| "That is why NHS Connecting for Health is putting in place an electronic summary care records system with security controls that meet the strongest national and international standards. | "That is why NHS Connecting for Health is putting in place an electronic summary care records system with security controls that meet the strongest national and international standards. |
| "The level of security is higher than in internet banking. There will be no need for paper records and any risk to confidentiality attached." | "The level of security is higher than in internet banking. There will be no need for paper records and any risk to confidentiality attached." |