Confidential details sent to wrong Walsall address

A confidential document from Walsall Council containing codes that can be used to access the homes of vulnerable people was accidentally posted to the wrong address.

The letter, which was sent to a home in Cheslyn Hay, contained details of 26 people in Walsall who had regular visits from carers.

It was said to reveal their names, addresses, visiting times of their carers and key safe codes.

Walsall Council today said it had launched an investigation.

The woman who received the document, who has asked not to be named, said: "I was extremely shocked when I found out I had been sent the details of service users.

"I am a relative of one of their service users. The document is a rota for the carers to tell them what times in the day their visits are.

"It contains personal details of 26 service users and there are seven key safe numbers. They are all properties in the Bentley area."

She added: "The safety of these people has been put at risk. If this information falls into the wrong hands then the consequences would be devastating."

Paul Davies, Walsall Council executive director for social care, said: "We treat this matter very seriously and measures were swiftly taken both to help ensure the security of service users and also to tighten up internal procedures."

It is not the first time confidential information relating to individuals has been misplaced.

On Monday the Express & Star revealed hundreds of confidential NHS records were lost, stolen or misplaced in the West Midlands in the past year. And last year confidential documents were found lying in the streets in Cannock.

By Lisa O'Brien