Surgery loses patient data tape

The tape contains a back-up for the main patient records

A tape containing the records of more than 11,000 patients has been lost by a GP practice in Greater Manchester.

The magnetic tape contains duplicates of current and old patient details at Whitaker Lane Practice in Prestwich.

Doctors say the records can only be viewed using specialist equipment and are unlikely to be accessible by other systems, such as home computers.

Letters have been sent to all 6,000 registered patients at the practice to inform them of the loss.

A back-up tape is made every day to safeguard information on the computer system in the event of fire, theft or computer failure.

Doctors say the missing tape, which contained a total of 11,851 records, was made on 13 May.

A practice spokesperson said: "Despite the low risks to patients in terms of their details being accessed by someone else, we felt it was important under our duty of care for patients to know this loss has occurred."

The tape was last seen within the practice but a thorough search has failed to uncover it.

"We are working with the Primary Care Trust to improve processes and learn lessons," the spokesman added.