UK COMPUTER STOLEN Care trust reveals theft of patients' data:

Care trust reveals theft of patients' data
Friday, September 25, 2009, 09:40

THE personal data of patients from South Devon is in the hands of thieves after a laptop belonging to Torbay Care Trust was stolen, it has been revealed.

The incident is just one of 30 occasions when personal data was lost or stolen collectively by Devon NHS staff in the last two years.

The laptop theft from the Torbay Primary Care Trust has only now come to light as part of its annual report.

Yesterday a spokesman was unable to say exactly when the theft occurred and if patients were told at the time, but in a prepared statement said:

"The trust reported one serious untoward incident this year (2008/09) involving the trust's own data. The incident involved the theft of a laptop from secured premises. The laptop was password protected," he said.

"Full consideration of any potential risks to patients was given, a full investigation was undertaken by the police and the trust, and an action plan put in place to reduce the risks of future thefts and data protection. The trust has raised awareness with all staff regarding the storing of personal data on laptops.

"All such data is now stored on secure servers and all staff have been issued with encrypted memory sticks and associated training."

The incident is just one of 30 recorded over the last two years by Devon Primary Care Trust, Derriford Hospital and Torbay Care Trust.