Mental health records stolen

Council laptop taken from under car seat

A COUNCIL laptop containing sensitive information about vulnerable adults with mental health problems has been stolen.

The £1,000 Dell laptop was taken last Monday morning from a car belonging to a council manager parked at The Grange, a centre used by people with mental health problems, in Grange Avenue.

It is believed private information concerning over 100 patients and staff, including medication details, was stored in the laptop.

The incident was admitted when the Oldham Evening Chronicle contacted the council.

Police received a report of a theft from a car between 9.15am and 10.15am at the site on September 1.

The offender smashed the rear passenger window and stole the laptop which had been placed under a seat. So far, nothing has been recovered.

An anonymous council source claimed there had been regular break-ins at the site in the weeks prior to the theft. The source said: “A few weeks before, another member of staff had their car broken into and keys for another property stolen.”

In January, the PCT apologised to patients after two memory sticks containing confidential details of 148 vulnerable patients were lost.

Councillor Brian Lord, cabinet member for Adult Services and Health, said he was informed of the matter yesterday, a week after the theft. He said: “We employ 2,500 people and I would not expect every little thing to be passed my way.”

Veronica Jackson, executive director for Adult & Community Services, said: “We can confirm that a council laptop was stolen

“An investigation is under way. We would like to reassure the public that the information was secured with a password, and that there is no evidence to suggest that information has been made public.”