The Information Commissioner's
Office (ICO) has found an Ipswich doctor in breach of the Data
Protection Act for failing to secure a computer containing patient
information.
The computer, which also contained employee details, was found
in a car park by an employee of Suffolk Primary Care Trust.
Dr Paul Thomas, of Gipping Valley Practice, has signed an
undertaking to keep personal information securely .
He has also committed to ensuring that the decommissioning
process of computers is completed properly to maintain the security
of personal information.
Sally-Anne Poole, Head of Enforcement and Investigations at the
ICO, said it is vital that sensitive personal information, such as
patient information, is handled securely.
"This is an important principle of the Data Protection Act. I am
pleased that Dr Thomas is taking remedial action to improve data
security," she said.
This year the ICO has taken action against
several NHS trusts for failing to comply with the Data Protection
Act .