UK 17 COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM HEATHERWOOD & WEXHAM PARK HOSPITALic Berkshire - Computer theft causes havoc for outpatients
Computer theft causes havoc for outpatients Nov 26 2004

By Matthew Gorman, Windsor Reporter

A break-in at Heatherwood & Wexham Park Hospitals Outpatient Appointments Booking Centre has left the department with just one computer.

The thieves broke into the building, based at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, and stole 17 of the 18 computers used to log outpatient appointments.

SWE of the computers in the booking centre has any patient information stored on them.

In addition, the booking centre's telephone system has been damaged.

At present, only 30 of the 100 lines usually in operation for booking outpatient appointments are useable. This means that patients have to be put on hold for longer, before they are able to speak to a Bookings Officer.

Evelyn Barker, Director of Clinical Services, said: "The theft has caused severe disruption to the outpatient appointments' booking facility, and until the computers are replaced, it will impact greatly on the efficiency of the service for patients trying to book an outpatient appointment.

"It is a shame that the people who stole these computers have no regard for their local health service or for the inconvenience this will cause to many of our patients.

"It is doubly unfortunate that this has coincided with major problems to the telephone system."

The booking centre is currently using temporary computers, although these are a little slower than their normal computers, and the Trust is doing everything possible to get the telephone and computer systems back to normal as soon as possible.

The Trust sincerely apologises to all its patients for the severe disruption this is causing to the service.