Outrage as hospital loses 2,000 records
CONFIDENTIAL health records belonging to 2,000 physiotherapy patients have been lost.
Security is expected to be tightened at the Haywood Hospital in Burslem after the sensitive documents vanished.
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Name(s) GV of the new-build Haywood Hospital in Burslem, off High Lane. Brief: Haywood Hospital in Burslem GV
The Haywood Hospital, pictured below, owned and managed by NHS Stoke-on-Trent, provides rehabilitation, podiatry and other therapy services. The missing records relate to patients treated in or before 2006.
Hospital managers have apologised.
A NHS spokesman said: "An investigation has been launched after it came to our attention that approximately 2,000 patients' records cannot be located.
"We are investigating the possibility of records having been destroyed under confidential conditions, in error."
"The missing records relate to a number of patients discharged after completing physiotherapy treatment in 2006 at Haywood Hospital.
"We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who has been affected. Procedures have already been tightened and steps are in place to ensure this does not happen again."
North Staffordshire Healthwatch co-ordinator, Ian Syme said: "The NHS has a duty of care to ensure records are kept safely. This is a major failing, to lose one person's is bad enough, but 2,000 is an outrage.
"In this situation they are going to have to contact all the patients and trawl through GP records and hospital documents to inform people.
"In my view the NHS does a lot of very good work, but mistakes like this bring the whole process into disrepute.
"Those confidential and often sensitive documents belong to the patient and this mistake is outrageous."
Former patient, George Hardman, aged 62, of Penkhull, had physiotherapy in 2006 following a leg amputation caused by diabetes complications. He said: "I had 12 months of treatment at Haywood Hospital. I had my leg amputated and they helped me to walk again with a false leg.
"The work they do there is amazing. I can forgive them that considering the amount of good they did for me."
Patients who think their notes have been lost should contact the PCT Information Governance Department on 01782 298339 which is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm.
6 Comments
by chris, stoke
Saturday, March 13 2010, 8:26AM
“Another prime example of incompetence! What is it? Lack of training, no communication, just don't give a damn? Please someone enlighten me!
How embarrassing!!!”
by Clive, LEEK
Friday, March 12 2010, 3:38PM
“Not surprised at all. A couple of years ago records were sent from the NSRI to a clinic in Leek that had been closed for 6 years. The records included test results that should have gone to G.P.s. They were told at the NSRI and a taxi was sent to pick them up. Guess what happened 4 months later ? Youv'e got it.....here we go again. Disgraceful.”
by Mrs Cheveley, Trentham
Friday, March 12 2010, 3:27PM
“Not all of your records Trevor. Read the booklet. Just prescription and allergy type information at first. It's more a less a 'start from scratch' medical card, and information will be added to it. I agree that this does cast a rather negative light on summary card records though.”
by stokie mart, Stoke
Friday, March 12 2010, 2:23PM
“Lizzie- not true I am afraid. many of the recent data losses were by private companies acting on contracts from government. Sadly these companies tend to refuse to comment about the individual circumstances of each loss and neither do they comment on whether any disciplinary action is taken against any employee.”
by Trevor, Burslem
Friday, March 12 2010, 1:48PM
“Have other readers received there form telling them their records are going to be transferred to a central database. It also tells you how to opt out, which you must do by May or your records will be transferred.
Ask you GP for an opt out form, you cannot trust this government with your personal data, with their track record for losing information. I have opted out, the only person to have access to my records is my GP, how long will it be before the NHS sells information to insurance companies, just like the DVLA now do.”
by Lizzie, Newcastle
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:39PM
“If this loss - and others like it from other NHS and Gov departments - took place in the private sector then heads would roll and jobs would go. Why is there an epidemic of confidential record loss in the public sector?”