Nine NHS Trusts lose patients' data

Nine National Health Service trusts have lost the records of hundreds of thousands of adults and children, the government said on Sunday, in the latest embarrassing loss of data by official bodies.

The Sunday Mirror said patient details were lost in 10 incidents at the NHS Trusts.

A CD with the names and addresses of 160,000 children was lost by the City and Hackney trust in east London and records of 244 cancer patients had been misplaced by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Health Trust in Kent, the paper reported.

The Department of Health (DoH) said affected patients had been told and there was no evidence the information had fallen into the wrong hands.

"Since the recent heightened concern about data protection a small number of trusts have reported breaches of their own security rules," the DoH told media.

"There are strict guidelines and procedures for dealing with such breaches. Investigations are under way in all the trusts involved and action will be taken against anyone who has failed to fulfil their legal responsibilities."

The Mirror said the other trusts involved were Bolton Royal Hospital, Sutton and Merton, Sefton, Mid-Essex, East and North Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Norwich, and Gloucester Partnership Foundation Trust.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was a serious issue and the DoH was working with the trusts to resolve the matter quickly.

"It's not good but we are taking steps as quickly as we can," she told Sky News.

"Of the hundreds and hundreds of trusts, nine have reported this issue and have taken steps, and were taking steps, to make sure the data is retrieved and continues to be secure."

However, campaign group NO2ID said it showed the danger of the government trying to centralise NHS data.

"If you care about your privacy then keep your medical records between you and your doctor, and out of the hands of the Department of Health, if you can," said spokesman Guy Herbert.

The latest revelation comes after the government said last week that one of its contractors had lost the detail of 3 million learner drivers.

That came after the government admitted it had lost computer discs containing the names and bank account details of 25 million people, exposing nearly half the population to possible fraud and identity theft.

"This is further evidence of the government's failure to protect the personal information which we provide," said Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley.