Data breach incidents at ambulance service 'on the rise'
DATA breach incidents are on the rise at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, according to new figures.
Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests by Data Breach Claims UK have revealed more than 450 data breach incidents have occurred within the Yorkshire Ambulance Service in the last three years.
In 2022/23, Yorkshire Ambulance Service recorded 131 data breaches, which rose to 169 the following year.
Over the past year, the service has seen an increase in these security incidents, with the total standing at 173, according to the stats from Data Breach Claims UK.
The most common types of data breaches within the Yorkshire Ambulance Service were ‘data disclosed in error’ which accounted for a total of 228 incidents, followed by ‘other information governance breaches’, with 66 incidents.
A spokesperson for Data Breach Claims UK said: “Data breaches involving ambulance services can affect patients, staff, and third parties such as relatives or carers.” Commenting on the overall national figures they said: “Ambulance services handle highly sensitive personal data every day, including information gathered during emergency calls, on-scene assessments, and patient handovers to hospitals.
“Due to the urgent nature of their work and their reliance on digital systems, ambulance trusts face data-protection risks similar to those of the wider NHS.”
They added: “Emergency services are becoming increasingly reliant on connected technology to support patient care.
“While these systems can improve response times and treatment, they also create new cybersecurity risks.”
Data Breach Claims UK also referenced a report highlighting the cyber threats faced by UK emergency services which was published earlier this year by cybersecurity business NCC Group.
The report explained how threats, such as a 15 per cent increase in ransomware attacks in 2024, can “significantly affect” blue light services’ ability to respond efficiently to emergencies.
Data breach solicitor for JF Law Tekena Bobmanuel said: “Ambulance services handle some of the most sensitive personal data that exists, including medical records, emergency care notes and contact details for patients and their families.
“When that information is mishandled, lost, or accessed without authorisation, the consequences for those affected can be extremely distressing.”
A spokesperson for YAS declined to comment.