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

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

The confidential recordsdata embody hospital appointment letters for ladies who’ve suffered miscarriages, take a look at outcomes of cervical screening and letters to folks of youngsters needing pressing surgical procedure at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool.

Thousands of letters had been leaked in error by PSL Print Management, a Preston-based consultancy agency paid thousands and thousands annually by the NHS.

The misplaced paperwork comprise names, addresses, telephone numbers and NHS numbers. 

The information dates again so far as 2015 regardless of data safety legal guidelines stipulating that medical data be deleted as quickly as it’s now not wanted.

As the Information Commissioner’s Office final night time mentioned it had launched an investigation, data safety marketing consultant Tim Turner mentioned: ‘This is genuinely shocking. The NHS ought to be declaring a significant incident.’

The breach got here to gentle when a whistleblower who had raised considerations about PSL requested all of the emails and textual content messages referring to his employment on the agency. 

The misplaced paperwork comprise names, addresses, telephone numbers and NHS numbers (inventory picture used)

PSL despatched him a reminiscence stick which appeared to comprise the agency’s whole e-mail server, and he seen thousands of affected person letters had been hooked up to emails between PSL employees and sub-contractors Datagraphic, a printing agency primarily based in Rugby.

An NHS spokesman mentioned final night time: ‘These allegations have been reported to the ICO to analyze.’

Alder Hey added: ‘This is beneath investigation with the ICO and as such we’re unable to remark.’