A major probe is underway after thieves brazenly stole NHS laptops containing confidential patient information from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Govan, Glasgow.
The Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board has confirmed that around 20 staff laptops were stolen from an office block within the hospital complex.
The theft has forced the health board to spend £14,000 replacing the stolen equipment, according to information obtained by the Glasgow Times.
Concerns are growing over patient data security, with calls mounting for CCTV installation across office facilities and an increase in on-site security patrols to prevent further incidents.
The stolen devices are understood to have stored sensitive and private medical data, raising questions about whether the health board is over-reliant on physical security measures and staff responsibility to safeguard such equipment.
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) confirmed the matter is under active review and said: “We can confirm a number of laptop thefts from offices within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which have been reported to Police Scotland.”
“All corporate NHSGGC laptops are fitted with encrypted hard drives as standard, which prevents unauthorised access to any data stored on the device.”
The incident has triggered serious concerns over data protection compliance, with patient confidentiality at potential risk despite encryption safeguards.
