Dog Walker Finds West Suffolk Hospital Patient Records
In the News
A bundle of confidential patient records has been discovered by a dog walker.
The West Suffolk Hospital list and a doctor's letter containing patient details were found at Trumpington Meadows nature reserve near Cambridge on Sunday.
The hospital list includes 12 patients' full names, birthdates, medical history and reasons for admission.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-51735975
Another blunder by another hospital.
Who on earth would want their medical records found anywhere they shouldn't be let along in a nature reserve! What a breach of trust.
I find this incredible as there is absolutely no reason for these files to even leave their place of origin. Patients records are available online to those who need them. I have used the nhs 111 service and they have immediate access to my details, what drugs I am taking etc. Just do not understand this at all.
Yes, as you say, it's inconceivable that these private and confidential papers are out of the 'proper place' and as most records are held in computers, someone must have printed them off to take they 'out'?? I'll bet they don't ever hold anyone one person responsible for it either. 
In the wrong hands all manner of things could happen with that information... everyone has to take this issue very seriously
Itβs shocking news thatβs mean our confidential record on risk in Hospital they should keep all important files in a safe place I am sure must be some one who knows them or something else . Thanks for sharing this information with us 
If only twelve sets of records it could well be that a Doctor's case had been stolen (then contents abandoned). This happened to a cancer specialist who lives just round the corner from me, it must be over 20 years ago. Doctor's cases are targets for people looking for drugs, back then, and perhaps even now, a doctor or surgeon might have to carry some records from hospital to hospital. (surgery at different hospital than consultation) So this might not be as negligent as it might first appear.
Why do they need to carry patients personal details with them outside a hospital? The records are supposed to be available through computers so they can do the travelling and then access the files online at the next location.
Only 12 records? That's fine so long as it doesn't include yours!
tumblespots The example I gave was over 20 years ago. Even now (or recently was) records are carried by surgeons and doctors within a hospital, they might have been stolen there.
These reports always make it appear that the hospital has thrown records away and are negligent. It doesn't even say these are FULL records. No doubt the full records are as safe as they could be and those found contained just as much information as necessary.
I doubt a surgeon's notes which contain patients informatiom, planned procedure and relevant information ever get entered onto full records when procedure is completed. They would be disposed of securely.
tumblespots Not that much - If I knew my left leg had to be amputated, I'd be the first to write on my right leg, with the largest marker pen I could find "NOT THIS ONE!" before they took me to theatre.
davidstockport 
Hopefully they wouldn't remove it with alcohol thinking someone had made an error 
i wonderd how my dad done his job so good he must of been dumping mail and not delivering them
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