Bolton PCT has written to around 3,200 patients who attended an anticoagulant clinic between September 2007 and January this year, or received an out-of-hours visit from a GP in the last two months.

Data relating to these consultations had been transferred to computer and paper copies should have been shredded or burned, but instead they were sent to landfill.

PCT chief executive Tim Evans said: ‘We are sincerely sorry for this lapse in our usually strict procedures for ensuring that all patient information is stored and disposed of securely.'

nick.bostock@haymarket.com

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