Another data loss: 6000 prisoners files on memory stick.

Here we go again, yet more data gos missing under New Labour:.link

The information was encrypted(hurrah!) but a password to get around the security was also attached to the device.(doh!)

It is the latest in a long series of data losses to hit the Government and prison and health staff are now having to trawl records to track those affected down and inform them.

The device was lost last month by a member of staff Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust and contained details on 6,360 prisoners from HMP Preston and was lost on December 30.

It contains details of some prisoners' ailments, such as diabetes, asthma, mental health and sexual health, but not full medical history, as well as prisoner surnames, their age range, cell location, prison number and clinic appointment times.

Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "It appears that the message about keeping data securely still hasn't sunk in within government. Those who recklessly lose data must be held accountable."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "This reinforces the need for an NHS-wide strategy to stop this happening in the future. Patients have a right to expect their personal information will be treated with the utmost care."

The member of staff has been suspended while the investigation is carried out.
A spokesman for the Trust said: "We are taking this very seriously, and we would like to apologise unreservedly for any concern this incident has caused. It should never have happened."

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "There is no risk to prison security."

A comment which shows that despite all the many other data losses the government has learned nothing and still issues platitudes after the event.

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