Dozens of highly sensitive and urgent cancer, HIV and mental health test results carried out by Kingston Hospital have been found abandoned in a bag in a nearby street.
The 173 documents, which included names of the patients, dates of birth, NHS numbers and GP details, as well as their test results, was found inside a grubby, unmarked motorbike bag in Kingston Hill, shortly before 1pm on Friday.
The man who found them rang the Surrey Comet and, realising their importance, we passed them back to Kingston Hospital later that day, in order to prevent possible further delay to the treatment of those involved.
This incident, which will horrify anyone who uses the hospital, comes hot on the heels of a string of highly embarrassing cases of data loss by HM Revenue and Customs and others, and has led to calls for changes in the law to make failure to protect personal data a criminal offence.
It merely issued a two-line written statement: "The trust is taking the matter very seriously. With a full investigation under way, we will not be commenting further at this time."
It did not even apologise. All it will reveal is that the documents were being transported from Kingston to Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton.
The Comet has contacted the Information Commissioners' Office, which is responsible for enforcing data protection, and it promised to launch an immediate inquiry.
A spokesman said: "We will be contacting Kingston PCT to establish how this incident occurred and to ensure systems are put in place to prevent this from happening again."
Edward Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, called for an immediate independent inquiry and said: "It's par for the course to shut up shop, but they can't hide on this one".
Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley said: "This delivers yet another blow to patient confidence about the security of their personal information. It must be very distressing for the patients concerned. I urge the hospitals concerned to undertake an immediate investigation and present their measures for securing data."
What do you think? Post your comments below.
9:40am Wednesday 9th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Tigs on 12:55pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Pardon me for starting a conspiracy theory but I am beginning to wonder if these things are actually being done deliberately! Either that or they have the thickest most cretinous staff working in positions that need a lot of care and attention to detail!!
Maybe there is a market for all these things and one day we who were born in this country (No matter of race etc) will find that we no longer have identities!!
It is all very frightening indeed. Lucky that the man who found them was so honest. I hope he didn't read too many personal details.
Pardon me for starting a conspiracy theory but I am beginning to wonder if these things are actually being done deliberately! Either that or they have the thickest most cretinous staff working in positions that need a lot of care and attention to detail!!
Maybe there is a market for all these things and one day we who were born in this country (No matter of race etc) will find that we no longer have identities!!
It is all very frightening indeed. Lucky that the man who found them was so honest. I hope he didn't read too many personal details.
Posted by: Anon on 3:23pm Wed 9 Jan 08
If you had read above you would of noticed that they were found in a moto bike bag, which would suggest they were being transported to Queen Mary's by courier. The staff at the hospital where doing what they were told to do and I feel it is very rude for them to be called thick or cretinous.
I think it sounds more likely the courier may have dropped the bag in error therefore he is to be blamed NOT THE HOSPITAL STAFF.
I wonder how much the hero who located these papers was paid for this story??? Funny how there is mension of his name!!
If you had read above you would of noticed that they were found in a moto bike bag, which would suggest they were being transported to Queen Mary's by courier. The staff at the hospital where doing what they were told to do and I feel it is very rude for them to be called thick or cretinous.
I think it sounds more likely the courier may have dropped the bag in error therefore he is to be blamed NOT THE HOSPITAL STAFF.
I wonder how much the hero who located these papers was paid for this story??? Funny how there is mension of his name!!
Posted by: Tigs on 3:50pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Your probably right Anon, it probably was the courier, typical man, he probably urinated on them aswell !
Your probably right Anon, it probably was the courier, typical man, he probably urinated on them aswell !
Posted by: Anon on 4:32pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Not sure what you mean by above comment. My point is the staff at kingston were just doing what they were told and that does not make them thick!!!
Not sure what you mean by above comment. My point is the staff at kingston were just doing what they were told and that does not make them thick!!!
Posted by: james on 7:48pm Wed 9 Jan 08
let me get this right- the guy called surrey comet first instead of the police?
let me get this right- the guy called surrey comet first instead of the police?
Posted by: Fiona on 3:07pm Thu 10 Jan 08
[quote][bold]james[/bold] wrote:
let me get this right- the guy called surrey comet first instead of the police?[/quote] Sad state of affairs that this mans first thought was to call the papers. Also worrying is the fact that staff at the Surrey Comet opened the pouch and counted the contents. When the pouch left the hospital it would have been sealed. So either the guy that found it opened it had a good rummage or the staff at the paper did. Why take the time to empty the pouch and count the contents when the priority should have been contacting the police and the hospital?
As for the stuff being transferred by courier in the first place, how does every one think these things get between sites!??! When the new NHS computer system is up and running, we will no longer need to transfer things in this way as everything will be accessible to the clinicians that need it. Until then....
james wrote:
let me get this right- the guy called surrey comet first instead of the police?
Sad state of affairs that this mans first thought was to call the papers. Also worrying is the fact that staff at the Surrey Comet opened the pouch and counted the contents. When the pouch left the hospital it would have been sealed. So either the guy that found it opened it had a good rummage or the staff at the paper did. Why take the time to empty the pouch and count the contents when the priority should have been contacting the police and the hospital?
As for the stuff being transferred by courier in the first place, how does every one think these things get between sites!??! When the new NHS computer system is up and running, we will no longer need to transfer things in this way as everything will be accessible to the clinicians that need it. Until then....
Posted by: Tom on 4:43pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Very well pointed out Fiona - Why call the Papers and not the Hospital itself or the Police. It is a massive set up. Who is this news reporter anyway, obviously someone trying to make it in the big lime light or someone trying to brown nose the big boss. To say the Staff are thick - well what great words to use. Is the the reporter writing. I hope it all comes out who did this and the Surrey Comet should be sued. NHS esp our local bUSY Hospital do us proud and this is absolute rubbih. Why are the reports at the BOTTOM of Kingston Hill when they should have been going UP the hill. You did a rubbish job Mr " I got paid to do it"!!!!!!!!![bold]bold[/bold]
Very well pointed out Fiona - Why call the Papers and not the Hospital itself or the Police. It is a massive set up. Who is this news reporter anyway, obviously someone trying to make it in the big lime light or someone trying to brown nose the big boss. To say the Staff are thick - well what great words to use. Is the the reporter writing. I hope it all comes out who did this and the Surrey Comet should be sued. NHS esp our local bUSY Hospital do us proud and this is absolute rubbih. Why are the reports at the BOTTOM of Kingston Hill when they should have been going UP the hill. You did a rubbish job Mr " I got paid to do it"!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anon on 4:55pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Well said Tom!!!! All sounds like a set up. Has the reporter not thought the reason the hospital is not commenting is because this is under investigation!!!!
Well said Tom!!!! All sounds like a set up. Has the reporter not thought the reason the hospital is not commenting is because this is under investigation!!!!
Posted by: Anon Two (Who can Sell), London, England on 2:33pm Fri 11 Jan 08
Seems that apart from being unable to spell, Anon like a few more ignorant writers, prefers to shoot the messenger. The reporter was correct exposing this negligence.
Seems that apart from being unable to spell, Anon like a few more ignorant writers, prefers to shoot the messenger. The reporter was correct exposing this negligence.
Posted by: Fiona on 5:14pm Fri 11 Jan 08
So, Anon Two can 'Sell' eh? Well done.
Check the latest news, police are investigating this as theft now. As for negligence, lets be clear that any negligence is down to the courier, not the hospital. Items such as these have to be transferred between sites by courier as current NHS computer systems are unable to communicate with each other.
When situations such as this occur, it is only right that they appear in the press. But sadly, the press (local and national) have a habit of sensationalising these things without knowing the whole story.
So, Anon Two can 'Sell' eh? Well done.
Check the latest news, police are investigating this as theft now. As for negligence, lets be clear that any negligence is down to the courier, not the hospital. Items such as these have to be transferred between sites by courier as current NHS computer systems are unable to communicate with each other.
When situations such as this occur, it is only right that they appear in the press. But sadly, the press (local and national) have a habit of sensationalising these things without knowing the whole story.
Posted by: Anon on 2:16am Sat 12 Jan 08
I think you will find not being able to spell has nothing to do with the above story!!! Think your just being unkind anon2.
Its not shooting the messenger if the information is incorrect.
I think you will find not being able to spell has nothing to do with the above story!!! Think your just being unkind anon2.
Its not shooting the messenger if the information is incorrect.
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