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Medical records lost after error Medical records lost after error
(about 7 hours later)
A woman from Ayrshire whose medical records disappeared from her GP surgery has sparked serious questions over the security of patient record transfers. A case of mistaken identity has revealed serious concerns over the way the NHS transfers medical records, BBC Scotland can reveal.
An internal review has been conducted following the case of an Ayrshire woman whose records were transferred from her GP surgery without her knowledge.
Mary Corbey's records were sent to a practice in Manchester when a woman registered there under the same name.Mary Corbey's records were sent to a practice in Manchester when a woman registered there under the same name.
The error meant she was removed as a patient at her own surgery, causing her to miss screening appointments. The error meant she was removed as a patient at her own surgery.
She only discovered the mistake when she went to the doctor with symptoms consistent with cervical cancer. Ms Corbey only discovered the mistake when she went to the doctor with symptoms consistent with cervical cancer.
She found she had been removed from screening programmes years earlier.
BBC Scotland can reveal that Mrs Brown's records had been sent from her GP in Girvan to Manchester after they were incorrectly matched with another woman with the same name whose date of birth had been incorrectly entered.BBC Scotland can reveal that Mrs Brown's records had been sent from her GP in Girvan to Manchester after they were incorrectly matched with another woman with the same name whose date of birth had been incorrectly entered.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this has happened to other people Mary CorbeyThere is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this has happened to other people Mary Corbey
"I realised that since I had been removed from that surgery, I had been removed from screening programmes. Since I needed treatment for a serious gynaecological problem, it was extremely alarming," she said."I realised that since I had been removed from that surgery, I had been removed from screening programmes. Since I needed treatment for a serious gynaecological problem, it was extremely alarming," she said.
Mrs Corbey, who did not have cervical cancer, added: "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this has happened to other people, and I strongly believe that other people may well have also been given false reassurance that everything is ok because the documents have ostensibly stayed within the NHS.Mrs Corbey, who did not have cervical cancer, added: "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this has happened to other people, and I strongly believe that other people may well have also been given false reassurance that everything is ok because the documents have ostensibly stayed within the NHS.
"But there are over 60,000 GPs within the NHS and they all have supporting staff and they are not all entitled to have access to a patient's records.""But there are over 60,000 GPs within the NHS and they all have supporting staff and they are not all entitled to have access to a patient's records."
About 500,000 sets of medical records belonging to patients in Scotland are transferred between GP practices every year because people move house or change their doctor.About 500,000 sets of medical records belonging to patients in Scotland are transferred between GP practices every year because people move house or change their doctor.
Mrs Corbey's case sparked a review of the rules regarding the transfer of medical records by NHS National Services Scotland.Mrs Corbey's case sparked a review of the rules regarding the transfer of medical records by NHS National Services Scotland.
Its report recognised that current practices may not meet legal requirements regarding data protection and need to be reviewed "as a matter of urgency".Its report recognised that current practices may not meet legal requirements regarding data protection and need to be reviewed "as a matter of urgency".
'Independent review''Independent review'
Mrs Corbey said she believed the whole system was open to abuse or fraud, and called for urgent action to make the transferral of medical records more secure.Mrs Corbey said she believed the whole system was open to abuse or fraud, and called for urgent action to make the transferral of medical records more secure.
A spokesman for NHS National Services Scotland said the security of patients' GP records was taken "very seriously" and processes were designed to ensure that cases such as Mrs Corbey's were "very rare".A spokesman for NHS National Services Scotland said the security of patients' GP records was taken "very seriously" and processes were designed to ensure that cases such as Mrs Corbey's were "very rare".
He said: "We met with Ms Corbey on a number of occasions to discuss her concerns. We also commissioned an independent review into how the transfer of GP records is handled throughout the NHS.He said: "We met with Ms Corbey on a number of occasions to discuss her concerns. We also commissioned an independent review into how the transfer of GP records is handled throughout the NHS.
"This produced a series of recommendations, for us and for other bodies, on how to improve processes. These include requiring GP practices to validate that records transferred to them match the patient, formal agreement on data protection responsibilities, and a public awareness campaign on the issue."This produced a series of recommendations, for us and for other bodies, on how to improve processes. These include requiring GP practices to validate that records transferred to them match the patient, formal agreement on data protection responsibilities, and a public awareness campaign on the issue.
"Since the report was published and shared with stakeholders in December 2009, we are implementing those recommendations that relate to us, as well as contributing to work on fraud and identity in the NHS.""Since the report was published and shared with stakeholders in December 2009, we are implementing those recommendations that relate to us, as well as contributing to work on fraud and identity in the NHS."