NHS loses records on 1.6m people

The Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust put the CD, which contained the name, address, date of birth, NHS number and GP of about 1.6 million people, in a filing cabinet during an office move.

But no one told staff who sent the cabinet to the landfill site and it has not been recovered, the Information Commissioner’s Office said.

The trust said it would now take action to bring in clear policies and procedures for when moving office, improve staff training and boost security against unauthorised and unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction and damage of personal records.