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Doctors' online resource taken down

February 16, 2010

Doctors should not be punished for failing to complete their appraisals because an online resource was taken down due to fears of hacking, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been told.

The Department of Health contacted the PCTs after the NHS Appraisal Toolkit was withdrawn for three weeks when a security check suggested the system was not 'sufficiently robust to withstand modern-day hacking'. It came at the busiest time of the year for appraisals and could delay the route to revalidation for those using pilots of the system.

Although the Government confirmed there was no security breach, it said: "Given the importance of preserving confidentiality of staff and patient information, it is not acceptable to take any risks."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "As part of a routine security check it has been discovered certain aspects of the electronic NHS Appraisal toolkit, established nine years ago, are not sufficiently robust to withstand modern-day hacking. Ministers immediately instructed the website be taken offline until the supplier, SCHIN, can address these potential vulnerabilities."

The move was endorsed by the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). However, RCGP chair Professor Steve Field conceded the move was going to be "hugely disruptive, with GPs already feeling vulnerable enough about revalidation".

Copyright © Press Association 2010

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