Nurses stolen handbag causes potential data breach update

We covered this yesterday – the story about a nurse’s stolen handbag possibly causing a significant data breach, which has been a real cause for concern for those affected.

On 9^th July, in east Chesterton, an out of hours nurse who worked for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust  was visiting a patient when the out of hours vehicle she was using was broken into. Her handbag was stolen from the car, which contained a diary.

The diary contained information about 200 patients whom the nurse had been visiting for the last six months. The information contained in the diary included patient name, their address, and, for some, access information to their home.

The result of this is a potentially huge data breach for those whose details have been stolen.

The fact that someone has information on where someone lives, and how to get into their property, is a great concern for many. One affected patient has already stressed the worry that someone now knows how to get in to their house, and where they keep the key! So we’re not just talking about confidential data now falling in to the hands of someone it shouldn’t have, but we’re talking about vulnerable people potentially being at risk of crime.

The thief may now have a wealth of information about when people are in their house; where they keep keys; their condition, which could determine how vulnerable they are; all sorts! Although the patients affected have been contacted, this may not be the assurance they need.

Following the story

We all know that theft cannot always be helped, but we do know not to leave valuables in a car on show. When it comes to confidential and sensitive information, the duty to protect that information is significant.

As lawyers, we know ourselves that case information and files cannot just be taken out of the office and left in cars.

A data leak like this can cause people a great amount of distress, especially if data that has been leaked can allow access to their homes. If you have been affected by the potential data leak, and want someone to talk to, you can contact us about it, and we can advise you on any potential claims.

We are taking on claims for anyone who received a notification of the event taking place. We understand the distress you may be suffering as we have helped others who have been in your shoes for major medical data breaches. Our advice is confidential and completely no obligation – so if you just want to chat about things first, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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