Medical records found in a river

The papers were found by people walking along the river

Health chiefs in Powys have launched an investigation after medical records were discovered in the River Severn near Welshpool.

The documents contain details of babies on an immunisation list at Machynlleth health centre in 1999.

Powys Local Health Board (PLHB) said it would leave "no stone unturned" in its inquiry.

But patients' representatives said the discovery of such private information was "disturbing".

The papers were found by people walking along the river bank in the village of Leighton.

PLHB added that there was a strict procedure in place to try to ensure medical documents were stored in a "secure environment." It is unclear when the documents were found.

But Montgomeryshire Community Health Council said the discovery was "disturbing."

We have launched an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this incident Powys Local Health Board spokeswoman

The watchdog's vice-chairman Councillor Michael Williams said: "I can't believe that such very private information could be found in the open countryside."

PLHB said it wanted to make absolutely clear how seriously the it took the issue.

A spokeswoman said: "We have launched an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this incident and will leave no stone unturned in finding out what happened.

"The LHB has strict procedures in place to make sure all medical documents are stored in a secure environment. If records need to be transferred between locations this is undertaken with security very much in mind."

She added: "When medical records are destroyed at the end of a given time period again privacy and security are given the utmost importance and documents are destroyed via a very strict procedure."