North West Ambulance Service sees sharp rise in data breach incidents Warrington Worldwide
pTHE North West Ambulance Service says a sharp rise in data breach incidents is down to improved reporting and staff trainingppNewly released figures from Data Breach Claims UK have highlighted growing concerns about data security in ambulance services as emergency responders are increasingly exposed to cyber risks and informationhandling failures
Data obtained by the company shows that North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has recorded almost 400 data breach incidents over the past three years underlining the scale of the challenge facing the service
Ambulance trusts routinely manage highly sensitive personal information including details shared during emergency calls medical assessments carried out at the scene and patient data transferred during hospital handoverspp
The fastpaced nature of emergency care combined with heavy reliance on digital systems places ambulance services at heightened risk of data protection failures
During the 202223 reporting period the North West Ambulance Service logged 75 data breaches This figure rose sharply to 143 incidents the following year
Most recently the trust has reported a further increase with 172 breaches recorded over the past year indicating that data security issues remain an ongoing concern
The findings reflect wider national warnings about cyber risks facing emergency services Earlier this year cybersecurity firm NCC Group published research outlining the growing threat landscape including a 15 rise in ransomware attacks during 2024 which can severely disrupt critical systems relied upon by blue light servicesppAs ambulance services continue to expand their use of digital technology to improve response times and patient outcomes the volume of data processed has increased bringing additional exposure to cyber incidents and operational errors
Data breach solicitor for JF Law Tekena Bobmanuel said Ambulance services handle some of the most sensitive personal data that exists including medical records emergency care notes and contact details for patients and their families When that information is mishandled lost or accessed without authorisation the consequences for those affected can be extremely distressing
Further analysis of Freedom of Information responses revealed the most common categories of data breaches within the North West Ambulance Service
Data confidentiality failures were the most frequent issue accounting for 156 incidents followed by unauthorised or incorrect disclosure of information which made up a further 78 cases
Data breaches involving ambulance services can affect patients staff and third parties such as relatives or carers While cyberattacks often receive the most attention many incidents arise from everyday problems including IT system errors human mistakes and lost or stolen devices containing personal data
With digital patient records continuing to expand across the NHS safeguarding personal information remains a significant challenge for ambulance trusts nationwide
Failure to protect sensitive data not only risks harming individuals but also erodes public confidence and places additional financial strain on already pressured health services
Tekena Bobmanuel added Many people wrongly assume that a data breach is something they simply have to accept particularly when it involves a public service
In reality UK data protection law gives individuals the right to seek compensation if a failure to protect their personal data has caused emotional harm anxiety or financial loss
Claiming compensation is about accountability and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect highly sensitive information Where mistakes occur affected individuals should be made aware of their rights and supported in taking action if they have suffered as a result
Data Breach Claims UK offers support to those whose personal data was compromised in an ambulance service data breach and can see if they have grounds to submit a claim
They operate a 24hour helpline and an online claim form which you can access on their website
In response a North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said The increase is a reflection of the improved reporting Each breach is risk assessed reviewed and investigated lessons learnt to prevent further incidents and reported to the Information Governance and Cyber group Over the last three years NWAS has actively communicated the importance of reporting data breaches however minor amongst our staff As part of this we have improved their training and knowledge on the subject and made the reporting method more accessible for mobile staff via ipadspppp
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Data obtained by the company shows that North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has recorded almost 400 data breach incidents over the past three years underlining the scale of the challenge facing the service
Ambulance trusts routinely manage highly sensitive personal information including details shared during emergency calls medical assessments carried out at the scene and patient data transferred during hospital handoverspp
The fastpaced nature of emergency care combined with heavy reliance on digital systems places ambulance services at heightened risk of data protection failures
During the 202223 reporting period the North West Ambulance Service logged 75 data breaches This figure rose sharply to 143 incidents the following year
Most recently the trust has reported a further increase with 172 breaches recorded over the past year indicating that data security issues remain an ongoing concern
The findings reflect wider national warnings about cyber risks facing emergency services Earlier this year cybersecurity firm NCC Group published research outlining the growing threat landscape including a 15 rise in ransomware attacks during 2024 which can severely disrupt critical systems relied upon by blue light servicesppAs ambulance services continue to expand their use of digital technology to improve response times and patient outcomes the volume of data processed has increased bringing additional exposure to cyber incidents and operational errors
Data breach solicitor for JF Law Tekena Bobmanuel said Ambulance services handle some of the most sensitive personal data that exists including medical records emergency care notes and contact details for patients and their families When that information is mishandled lost or accessed without authorisation the consequences for those affected can be extremely distressing
Further analysis of Freedom of Information responses revealed the most common categories of data breaches within the North West Ambulance Service
Data confidentiality failures were the most frequent issue accounting for 156 incidents followed by unauthorised or incorrect disclosure of information which made up a further 78 cases
Data breaches involving ambulance services can affect patients staff and third parties such as relatives or carers While cyberattacks often receive the most attention many incidents arise from everyday problems including IT system errors human mistakes and lost or stolen devices containing personal data
With digital patient records continuing to expand across the NHS safeguarding personal information remains a significant challenge for ambulance trusts nationwide
Failure to protect sensitive data not only risks harming individuals but also erodes public confidence and places additional financial strain on already pressured health services
Tekena Bobmanuel added Many people wrongly assume that a data breach is something they simply have to accept particularly when it involves a public service
In reality UK data protection law gives individuals the right to seek compensation if a failure to protect their personal data has caused emotional harm anxiety or financial loss
Claiming compensation is about accountability and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect highly sensitive information Where mistakes occur affected individuals should be made aware of their rights and supported in taking action if they have suffered as a result
Data Breach Claims UK offers support to those whose personal data was compromised in an ambulance service data breach and can see if they have grounds to submit a claim
They operate a 24hour helpline and an online claim form which you can access on their website
In response a North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said The increase is a reflection of the improved reporting Each breach is risk assessed reviewed and investigated lessons learnt to prevent further incidents and reported to the Information Governance and Cyber group Over the last three years NWAS has actively communicated the importance of reporting data breaches however minor amongst our staff As part of this we have improved their training and knowledge on the subject and made the reporting method more accessible for mobile staff via ipadspppp
pp
pp
pp Save my name email and website in this browser for the next time I commentpp
ppppΔdocumentgetElementById akjs1 setAttribute value new Date getTime ppYou can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emailsp
