Remote storage secures data despite floods

Many GP practices in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire have been able to keep electronic patient data safe from the recent severe floods in the region, thanks to local service provider Computer Science Corporation’s (CSC) remote data storage policy.

Since Monday, torrential rain across northern England has resulted in severe floods, with towns remaining submerged in water.

E-Health Insider understands that at least ten surgeries have had PCs badly damaged by the rising water.

However, GPs using TPP’s SystmOne software store backup data remotely, so there should be no loss of data and normal service using current patient notes should be able to resume, once surgeries are ready to re-open, according to CSC.

Patient data recorded on TPP systems are sent to a data centre in the South-east and can be accessed by authorised users, via the NHS’ N3 network, in the event of a disaster such as flooding.

Leigh Donoghue, CSC’s primary care director, told EHI: “This is one of the benefits of new NHS computer systems. Practices can be sure that their data will be sent to a secure data centre at all times, and they can gain access to it at all times, whatever the weather.”

A spokesperson for NHS Yorkshire and the Humber told EHI: “Patients have been informed of where to go if they need medical attention and their GP surgery is closed and every effort has been made to ensure that GPs can obtain access to electronic patient records from a site where accessibility is not an issue.”

In the past, damage from severe weather has led to an irreplaceable loss of data, meaning that GPs and patients had to create a whole new record after disasters.

All trusts now have to consider severe weather as part of their major incident plans under the NHS Emergency Plans Guidance 2005. This includes measures to prevent IT failures and data loss. It is unclear if back-up data plans are in place for a possible nationwide natural disaster. The fate of patient data that had not been backed up remotely during this week’s weather chaos is unknown.

A DH spokesperson told EHI: “It is particularly important that NHS trusts can continue to deliver their essential functions and that they are able to respond to the needs of the community, businesses and the environment in emergency situations.

“Integration of procedures with those of the emergency services, local acute trust, neighbouring primary care trusts, local authorities and the many other agencies: statutory and voluntary, that will participate in any response, enabling all of the organisations involved to interact effectively and efficiently – new IT systems are aiding this work in immeasurable ways.”

Heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the week, but the risk of flooding is now low. Roads remain closed and hundreds of families are in temporary shelter, with many villages closed off. There have been four fatalities to date.