Tens of thousands of NHS patients' private medical information leaked

Tens of thousands of NHS patients’ private medical information leaked in shocking data breach

  • Thousands of NHS patients’ info was leaked by a Preston-based consultancy 
  • The firm, called PSL Print Management, is paid millions each year by the NHS
  • The confidential files included hospital appointment letters and test results 

Private medical information about tens of thousands of NHS patients has been leaked in a shocking data breach, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The confidential files include hospital appointment letters for women who have suffered miscarriages, test results of cervical screening and letters to parents of children needing urgent surgery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool.

Thousands of letters were leaked in error by PSL Print Management, a Preston-based consultancy firm paid millions each year by the NHS.

Private medical information about tens of thousands of NHS patients has been leaked in a shocking data breach, The Mail on Sunday can reveal (stock photo used) 

The lost documents contain names, addresses, phone numbers and NHS numbers. 

The information dates back as far as 2015 despite data protection laws stipulating that medical data be deleted as soon as it is no longer needed.

As the Information Commissioner’s Office last night said it had launched an investigation, data protection consultant Tim Turner said: ‘This is genuinely shocking. The NHS should be declaring a major incident.’

The breach came to light when a whistleblower who had raised concerns about PSL requested all the emails and text messages relating to his employment at the firm. 

The lost documents contain names, addresses, phone numbers and NHS numbers (stock photo used)

PSL sent him a memory stick which appeared to contain the firm’s entire email server, and he noticed thousands of patient letters had been attached to emails between PSL staff and sub-contractors Datagraphic, a printing firm based in Rugby.

An NHS spokesman said last night: ‘These allegations have been reported to the ICO to investigate.’

Alder Hey added: ‘This is under investigation with the ICO and as such we are unable to comment.’

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