UnNews:New public sector breach in UK

This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-picosecond misinformation.

23 December 2007

PERPLEXED-RUTTING, England -- The British Government has been heavily criticised after admitting that it had lost the N from NHS in the latest public sector lapse. Hundreds of thousands of adults, children and Hospital staff are thought to be affected.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo defended the loss and said, "Well it was there when we checked this morning."

Despite the loss of the letter N, the government promised hygiene standards would be maintained.

It follows the recent losses of the R from HM Revenue And Customs and the L from DVLA.

Conservative Health Spokeman Andrew Lansley condemed the government, asking "How can they be trusted now? Losing the letter N is unforgivable. Are they sure they've looked everywhere?"

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "I bet they didn't check behind the sofa. That's where you'll find everything." The Department of Health said the security breach was being dealt with but the Signmaker said the replacement N would not be ready until after the New Year.

Dr Doug De'ath, of the British Medical Association, told Unnews "It's going to cost a fortune to print up new letterheads."

But Dr De'ath said he did not think the treatment of patients would be affected by the loss of the letter N, but it could cause a lot of confusion for some pensioners. Many of them would be looking for an "NHS" hospital. In some cases, many of them would walk straight past.

Police are still searching for the missing letter at the now-renamed HM Evenue and Customs which disappeared in November.

Sources

• BBC "Anger as NHS patient records lost" BBC News, December 23, 2007