287 NHS data breaches since 2007

29 Apr 2010

The NHS has been guilty of more serious data breaches in the last two years than any other organisation in the country, it has been revealed.

David Smith, deputy commissioner at the Information Commissioner's Office said there had been 287 incidents since 2007 - 30% of the total number reported.

Most of the breaches (113) were down to stolen data or hardware, with losses coming next at 82.

Speaking at the Infosec security conference, Mr Smith urged caution over the high rate, explaining that a culture of openness and rapid reporting of all issues - something lacking in the private sector - went some way to accounting for the seemingly high figure.

Echoing his comments, Richard Vautrey, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said the breaches should be kept "in perspective", claiming they reflected the size and complexity of the organisation rather than lax security.

The NHS is currently in the process of rolling out digital patient records, a scheme from which patients can opt out.

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