NHS hit by loss of sexual health data

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A memory stick containing information about the STI tests of 146 people has gone missing from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

All patients have been informed of the loss. The stick is assumed to have been stolen on Thursday 21st August.

Boyz magazine uncovered the data loss after a reader told them he was contacted by the hospital and called in for a meeting.

A consultant told him that the memory stick, which went missing from the St Stephen’s Centre next to the hosptial’s main Fulham Road site, contained his patient number, surname and initial and details of an STI test.

This data loss is the latest to blight public bodies.

Last month the Home Office admitted that private contractor PA Consulting had lost a memory stick containing the details of thousands of criminals.

In January the Ministry of Defence said a stolen laptop contained the passport, National Insurance numbers and bank details of more than 600,000 people, some of them serving troops.

Last year HM Revenue and Customs lost two computer discs containing 25 million child benefit claims, including names, dates of birth, bank and address details.