Private medical files dumped in cabinet outside GP surgery | Metro News
Private medical files dumped in cabinet outside GP surgery
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Josh Layton
Wednesday 1 Dec 2021 2:57 pm
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Caption: Exclusive: Hundreds of patients\' files dumped in cabinet outside abandoned GPs\' surgery Pictures: Josh Layton / Metro.co.uk
Hundreds of patients’ files were found dumped in a cabinet outside an abandoned GPs’ surgery in Warwick (Picture: Josh Layton/Metro.co.uk)
Hundreds of patients’ confidential details were found dumped in an unlocked filing cabinet left outside an unused doctors’ surgery.
The sensitive personal files were reference cards that included individuals’ names, dates of birth, addresses and NHS numbers.
They were left for days in a doorway among piles of leaves outside the former Priory Medical Centre in Warwick.
The index cards, headed ‘Royal College of General Practitioners’, also included other details, such as the date a patient was registered.
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The cabinet was discovered abandoned outside the medical centre, which was closed after a larger facility opened on a site nextdoor.
A regional commissioning group is now investigating how the data breach could have taken place.
One patient at the new surgery, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It is extremely worrying that such sensitive patient data could just be left to gather dust in a doorway like that.
‘It is obviously an old system before everything went digital but in this age of scams and identity fraud it makes no difference, extreme care should be taken with all our information.
‘It sounds like many of those whose details were on the cards still live in the area and are still registered patients at the surgery or others nearby.
‘I just hope the files are safely removed as quickly as possible before any damage is done.’
Exclusive: Hundreds of patients' files dumped in cabinet outside abandoned GPs' surgery
Confidential patient records contained on index cards were abandoned outside a former GPs’ surgery (Picture: Josh Layton/Metro.co.uk)
The medical centre closed in June 2021 before it moved to a new, purpose-built surgery of the same name.
The old building has since lain unused, with the patients’ cards, coloured blue and pink, left outside for days in the filing cabinet.
The NHS has strict rules protecting patient information, which have been augmented by a complex data protection framework.
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation laws, which came into force in May 2018, each practice in England should have a designated Data Protection Officer.
Exclusive: Hundreds of patients' files dumped in cabinet outside abandoned GPs' surgery
The index cards were left in an unlocked cabinet dumped outside a former doctors’ surgery (Picture: Josh Layton/Metro.co.uk)
Although the Priory Medical Centre is now fully computerised, some records are still retained in hard copy.
The surgery states on its website: ‘We retain the old paper records as it is not possible to transfer all data. All information concerning you and held by the practice will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.’
A spokesperson for NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for GPs’ services in the area, said: ‘This morning, we were made aware of four mini-filing cabinets containing patient information, found at unused GP practice premises in Warwick. Based on the information gathered to date, the data appears to be historic.
‘This data has been recovered and secured, according to information governance procedures, and we are working with the practice to understand this data breach and any potential impact on patients.’
author image
Josh Layton
Wednesday 1 Dec 2021 2:57 pm
498
SHARES
Caption: Exclusive: Hundreds of patients\' files dumped in cabinet outside abandoned GPs\' surgery Pictures: Josh Layton / Metro.co.uk
Hundreds of patients’ files were found dumped in a cabinet outside an abandoned GPs’ surgery in Warwick (Picture: Josh Layton/Metro.co.uk)
Hundreds of patients’ confidential details were found dumped in an unlocked filing cabinet left outside an unused doctors’ surgery.
The sensitive personal files were reference cards that included individuals’ names, dates of birth, addresses and NHS numbers.
They were left for days in a doorway among piles of leaves outside the former Priory Medical Centre in Warwick.
The index cards, headed ‘Royal College of General Practitioners’, also included other details, such as the date a patient was registered.
Read More
The cabinet was discovered abandoned outside the medical centre, which was closed after a larger facility opened on a site nextdoor.
A regional commissioning group is now investigating how the data breach could have taken place.
One patient at the new surgery, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It is extremely worrying that such sensitive patient data could just be left to gather dust in a doorway like that.
‘It is obviously an old system before everything went digital but in this age of scams and identity fraud it makes no difference, extreme care should be taken with all our information.
‘It sounds like many of those whose details were on the cards still live in the area and are still registered patients at the surgery or others nearby.
‘I just hope the files are safely removed as quickly as possible before any damage is done.’
Exclusive: Hundreds of patients' files dumped in cabinet outside abandoned GPs' surgery
Confidential patient records contained on index cards were abandoned outside a former GPs’ surgery (Picture: Josh Layton/Metro.co.uk)
The medical centre closed in June 2021 before it moved to a new, purpose-built surgery of the same name.
The old building has since lain unused, with the patients’ cards, coloured blue and pink, left outside for days in the filing cabinet.
The NHS has strict rules protecting patient information, which have been augmented by a complex data protection framework.
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation laws, which came into force in May 2018, each practice in England should have a designated Data Protection Officer.
Exclusive: Hundreds of patients' files dumped in cabinet outside abandoned GPs' surgery
The index cards were left in an unlocked cabinet dumped outside a former doctors’ surgery (Picture: Josh Layton/Metro.co.uk)
Although the Priory Medical Centre is now fully computerised, some records are still retained in hard copy.
The surgery states on its website: ‘We retain the old paper records as it is not possible to transfer all data. All information concerning you and held by the practice will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.’
A spokesperson for NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for GPs’ services in the area, said: ‘This morning, we were made aware of four mini-filing cabinets containing patient information, found at unused GP practice premises in Warwick. Based on the information gathered to date, the data appears to be historic.
‘This data has been recovered and secured, according to information governance procedures, and we are working with the practice to understand this data breach and any potential impact on patients.’
