New statistics released today reveal that NHS staff have breached IT guidelines almost 500 times in the past three years, although the true numbers are expected to be much higher.
A Freedom of Information act request by the Scottish Conservatives show a total of 481 breaches have been recorded since 2010. 195 breaches were recorded in 2012, 170 recorded in 2011 and 109 recorded in 2010.
Breaches include the sharing of passwords, inappropriate use of Facebook, swearing in emails and staff installing banned software on computers.
As a result, at least 15 NHS workers have been sacked or resigned, and others have been given counselling, while some health boards refused to disclose what disciplinary action had been taken.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said:
“More and more sensitive information in hospitals is being held electronically, including patient records and highly-confidential data.
“As a result, we need to ensure those who have access act completely responsibly to ensure it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
“The fact this trend appears to be increasing is very concerning, particularly when you consider high-profile incidents of data loss over recent years.
“I’m sure the vast majority of these breaches have been committed accidentally but that makes it even more critical that the NHS IT system is secure and resilient to such gaffes.”