Message from EMAS;- Patient Data Loss Incident We take our responsibility for the security and confidentiality of the information we record and store very seriously, and I am sorry to tell you that we have had a patient data loss incident which we have reported to the Information Commissioner this week. A data cartridge containing just under 42,000 electronic copies of scanned handwritten Patient Report Forms which we believe are from September 2012 to November 2012, has gone missing from our Beechdale divisional headquarters in Nottingham. The cartridge is small and there is a possibility that it is still on our premises; we are conducting a thorough search of the building. We are certain the data can only be read via specific hardware which we have in our premises, and which is no longer in production i.e. it is obsolete. Therefore it is unlikely that the information stored on the missing cartridge can be viewed by anyone outside of the organisation. The incident has been reported to the Information Commissioner, to NHS organisations who monitor and regulate our service and to Nottinghamshire Police. It is extremely unfortunate that this incident has occurred, particularly as during this financial year EMAS is replacing the current computerised storage system to strengthen security arrangements. People who received an ambulance response during September 2012 to November 2012, and who had their details recorded in handwriting on a paper Patient Report Form, can speak to us via telephone 0115 884 5055 (8am to 8pm) if they have any concerns about this news. We have taken a proactive approach to report this because we are an open and transparent service and we know it is our duty to inform people when such an incident occurs. Sue Noyes Chief Executive
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 08:31:52 +0000
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