9:57am Wednesday 16th January 2008
By Linda Piper
PERSONAL information about thousands of workers at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, has gone missing.
The information, which may include names, addresses, National Insurance numbers, bank details and job titles, disappeared while being held in a secure room at the Frognal Avenue hospital.
The data, all contained on microfiche film, was due to be moved to another secure site within the hospital when it was discovered the film, and a microfiche reader, were missing.
Acting chief executive Lorraine Knight says the information related to staff working at the hospital between 1974 and 1996 and was due to be destroyed.
Some of the film had been recovered, but most of it was still missing.
And some of it was payroll information, but there were also a number of leavers' forms.
It is not known whether the film was stolen or has just been lost.
The discovery was made at the beginning of October and since then the hospital says it has conducted two internal investigations, which have failed to turn up the missing film, or any clue to its whereabouts.
Bexley police have been informed, although Mrs Knight says there is no evidence the room where the records had been stored had been broken into.
Ms Knight says police have advised the hospital it is unlikely the information has fallen into the wrong hands.
No patient data or paper records were involved.
Queen Mary's says it has now set up new policies and rules for storing, retaining and disposing of data.
There will also be extra training for staff who handle confidential information.
A helpline has been set up for present and former staff whose personal details may be on the films and will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm on 020 8309 0247.
The hospital is also writing to staff, who are advised to check their bank accounts and inform both their bank and the police if there have been any suspicious transactions.
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