Labour data security system 'in chaos'

Many doctors are carrying unsecured patient data with them, the survey suggests

Thursday, 04, Sep 2008 09:27

Labour systems for data security are being described as "chaotic" today, with the revelation hospital doctors are carrying "hundreds of thousands of kilobytes" of sensitive patient data on portable memory sticks with no security protection.

The information, which comes from a survey published by the Health Service Journal (HSJ), found 92 out of 105 clinicians held memory sticks. Seventy-nine of the sticks held confidential patient information, but only five were password protected.

Although the survey only took place in one hospital, the two clinicians who conducted it said there is "no reason why this lack of security would not be mirrored in surveys across every hospital in the UK and beyond".

They warned that unless "urgent action is taken" the NHS will join the list of public bodies suffering a data loss scandal.

"Patients rightly expect their personal details to be protected," said shadow health minister Mike Penning.

"Unfortunately, this survey exposes the chaos inherent in Labour's approach to data security."

A Department of Health spokes¬person said: "Any breach of patient security is unacceptable.

"We would urge HSJ to provide details of the survey to the relevant trust so they can take appropriate action to pro¬tect patient confidentiality."