Stolen laptop prompts security reminder

GP practices have been reminded of their responsibilities for patient information following the theft of a practice laptop from a GP’s home.

A laptop belonging to Dunstan Medical Centre in Bolton, containing patient data, was stolen from the home of partner Dr Thomas Lynch during a burglary this summer.

Following the theft the practice wrote to all patients to explain what had happened. The letter said all information stored on the computer was “held under the strictest multiple password security and unauthorised access would be highly unlikely”.

The letter added that policies regarding the use of laptop computers and how they should be stored were in place, and that none of them had been breached.

A spokesperson for Bolton Primary Care Trust told EHI Primary Care: “The practice told us straight away and consulted us right down to the wording of the letter sent to patients.”

Following the theft the PCT sent out a reminder to staff and GP practices about security and confidentiality when using laptops. The advice said that laptops should be locked away when not in use, that they should not be left unattended, that all files should be password protected and that there should be regular housekeeping of laptop files.

Dr Nicholas Norwell, a medico-legal adviser for the Medical Defence Union, said it was not possible to comment on specific cases but that the general advice was for doctors to ensure information is kept safely and securely, and that patient information remained confidential to meet both the requirements of the General Medical Council and the Data Protection Act.

He added: “Our advice is also that doctors need to keep use of their machines absolutely separate into practice computers and personal computers. That separation alone gets rid of a large number of problems.”