Hospital audit reveals significant IT security risks

Sensitive patient records at a major public hospital are being kept on unencrypted laptops and can be easily accessed by workers who have no clearance to examine them.

There is also a risk that, should the same patients request all their files, the lack of clarity on where they are kept would mean the request may not be met.

The significant IT security problems have been identified at Waterford Regional Hospital in HSE internal audit reports.