There have been more than 150 data breaches across
Welsh NHS trusts over a three-year period.
The details were obtained by the BBC under the
Freedom
of Information Act.
Among the examples of data breaches are lost or stolen laptops,
many of which were not encrypted.
In Wrexham, one staff member found a list of patients of an
entire children's ward with their ailments, lying in a puddle.
Welsh Assembly health minister Edwina Hart said she was "quite
horrified" by the BBC's findings. Hart said staff losing such data
should be disciplined.
The data breach information gathered covered the period between
April 2005 and March 2008.
All the trusts in Wales responded, apart from Gwent NHS
Trust.
It said it "would be too expensive" to gather the data breach
information. The BBC is challenging its decision not to reveal the
information.
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