The thefts and misuse of patients’ private data are soaring day-by-day around the globe.

David Taylor, Data Protection Act commissioner, advised on GP Online on how doctors can save themselves from being fined by the Information Commissioner's Office.

Mr. Taylor noted that the responsibility for ensuring the safety of the patients’ personal information is on the shoulders of GPs, and audits can help make sure that a surgery is performing within the law.

The data protection experts said that in case a data breach happens, the senior partner is likely to be blamed for the incident.

He advised that all smartphones, USB pens and laptops must be encrypted. In case, they are not encrypted, they must not be removed from the surgery.

Speaking on the topic, Mr. Taylor said, “If at all possible, anonymise the data or remove as much of the personal content as you can. If you are transporting sensitive personal data, you must take greater precautions.”

Recently, ICO reported that hackers breached the security of retailer Lush’s website and stole personal information on as many as 5,000 customers, including their payment details.