Confidential files stolen from surgery

Twelve computers containing the confidential records of thousands of patients have been stolen during a raid on a doctor's surgery in Wolverhampton.

Thieves struck at Newbridge Surgery, run by Dr Wilkinson and partners, in Tettenhall Road.

Health bosses assured the surgery's 4,450 patients that the records were encrypted.

Lynne Allen, director of primary care at Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust, said: "We would wish to reassure the 4,450 patients that their records held on the patient database are encrypted along with all the PCs at the practice.

"This means that only those authorised to access information are able to do so."

She added the confidential information was scrambled to prevent it from being read without a special code.

Only those authorised to read this information had access to this code.

There is no national requirement to encrypt permanent devices such as PCs in offices or GP practices.

But Miss Allen added: "The trust has made the decision to encrypt all PCs in GP practices in the city.

"This work had been completed at Dr Wilkinson's practice."

Police are investigating the theft, which took place between 11.30pm last Friday and 12 noon the following day.