NHS reveal volume of children’s missing health records

More than 100 health records including personal details of children and sensitive health information have gone missing, according to NHS figures.

Nearly half of the 104 records misplaced in Scotland last year were in NHS Grampian. The health board said the 50 records – which included clinical notes, nursing records, a neonatal record and a drug report – were not “lost” but “reported missing”.

NHS Highland lost 17 records, including 14 from children’s services largely relating to requests for records from another health board when a child moved into the area. NHS Lanarkshire lost 22 records containing personal details, assessment information and one x-ray.

NHS Forth Valley and Greater Glasgow and Clyde lost two records each, and NHS Tayside lost one. NHS Lothian said it does not keep a record of lost files, but said it is “not aware of any records being lost in the last year”.

The figures were uncovered through a Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Health spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: “The discovery of dumped patient files in Dundee last week was appalling.

“Extremely personal information detailing illnesses, treatments and even addresses of 22 patients had been discarded next to a publicly used bin and left for anyone to see.

“This incident on its own should be cause for the Health Secretary to investigate what the NHS is doing to protect patient records. In the space of one year, 104 patient records were reported lost or missing in Scotland.

“In 2011, many health boards across Scotland reported instances where, for example, neonatal records or diagnosis details could not be accounted for. We have no choice but to trust health boards with our personal information.

“It is simply not good enough for the Health Secretary to have a firm word with each health board in question and then move on.”