Health Service Journal reported today that two trusts were not practicing laptop security in accordance with the National Health Service Data Protection Act.

The first, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University trust, reported a laptop containing unencrypted health records and patient data stolen from its office building in South Wales.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation trust also reported stolen data, this time on a memory stick. The stick was unencrypted and contained information on both patients and staff.

First, it is important to encrypt all sensitive data. However, in cases such as these, it is also important to have a backup plan, like that provided by MyLaptopGPS.