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Hospital finds ‘lost’ discs which sparked identity theft warning
£25,000 bill for fiasco as CDs with staff details turn up after wider search
WHITTINGTON Hospital wasted £25,000 after wrongly announcing that confidential details of thousands of staff members had been “lost in the post”.
A farcical fortnight at the Highgate hospital – which included a police investigation and letters being sent to 18,000 staff warning that they could become victims of identity fraud – ended with hospital bosses announcing on Friday that four CDs “lost” eight weeks ago had, in fact, been found.
Helena Karina, patient rep at the hospital, said: “£25,000 is an awful lot of money. What is it not going to be spent on? There has been an awful lot of anxiety over this.”
Hospital chief executive David Sloman has apologised to staff. He said: “I hope they feel we have supported them appropriately throughout the incident. It is essential we learn from this.”
He had announced four days earlier that four CDs containing confidential information on 18,000 staff – including payroll details, National Insurance numbers, names and addresses – were lost at the hospital on July 22.
The announcement caused panic among staff, who were told they could be targeted by identity thieves. After an exhaustive search of the payroll department, the hospital had contacted police on September 12 and were advised the discs “should be put down as a loss”.
The 18,000 staff – who have worked for the hospital over the past seven years – were informed of the “lost” discs by letter last Monday, and four emergency staff meetings were called.
The hospital contacted the national media and the bungle was prominently featured on BBC and ITN news and in newspapers. A further 18,000 letters informing staff the CDs had been found and explaining the mistake were sent on Thursday.
A member of staff remains suspended while an internal investigation takes place.
A hospital spokeswoman confirmed the bungle was expected to cost £25,000. She said “all areas had been thoroughly searched” after the discs went missing from the payroll department post tray on July 22.
They had been found “following a wider search and communication to all staff on the loss”.
The spokeswoman said: “Nobody is being blamed, but a member of staff still remains suspended. The serious untoward incident panel will provide a full report on its findings. It is essential we learn from this and are in the process of further reviewing our procedures to ensure they are as tight and robust as they can be.”
The discs were being sent to the Warwick headquarters of American computer firm McKesson. Union chiefs blamed the bungle on staff shortages in the payroll department. |
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