By Isobel Williams

A 54-year-old was mortified to discover the results of her intimate medical exam had been lost – after an NHS worker dropped them from his motorbike.

Angela Hooper is believed to be one of several women whose personal data was lost in the embarrassing incident.

The personal assistant was informed that information about her colposcopy – which examines the cervix, vagina, and vulva – had gone missing.

The letter said an NHS worker tried to take the papers home on his motorbike but lost them "along his journey".

The Dartford woman, who had the procedure at Darent Valley Hospital, says she now fears her data could be used against her, or that someone could steal her identity.

"I am quite worried that information of mine is out there, and someone could use that information to pretend to be me,” she said.

"It has got my hospital number on it and why I was there which is quite a personal thing.

“Nobody wants their medical information all over the place – let alone on the side of the road.

"You couldn’t make it up. It has come off the end of a bike. That is absolutely ridiculous. It is just not good enough."

“I got a letter to say that there had been a bit of a data breach, but I didn’t really think anything of it...”

Angela says she first received a letter about a data breach but didn't think anything of it.

But last week she was sent another letter, this time going into detail about what had happened.

It said an NHS worker who had retired but holds one clinic per week had requested the colposcopy information to "review the pathway".

He then tried to take the papers home on his motorbike but lost them.

The letter admitted: "He is unsure at what point exactly along his journey home the sheets were lost.”

It added how Angela's date of birth, NHS number, and address were not on the print out which was lost.

Angela continued: "I need to have a sit and read the letter properly and register it. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

"My partner has read it and he is absolutely outraged. Mine and presumably a number of other women’s colposcopy findings have been printed off in hospital and given to someone who has now retired.

“They have put it in their backpack and got on their bike home only to find them missing when they get back.”

The letter states: “I am aware that this has caused significant distress to many of you, so I would like to start by offering my sincere apologies for this.

"I hope that the information I can now provide will give some reassurance that we have taken this very seriously and done all we can to prevent this happening to any patients in the future.

“The information on the printed sheets contained your name, hospital number and a limited description of the result of your cervical smear test."

Angela feels the hospital haven’t done nearly enough to solve the issue and says she will struggle to trust the NHS again.

She explained: “I have got other medical issues going on where the stress of dealing with the hospital is just unbearable.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and I am still waiting for results from that. I just don’t want to get into an argument.

“They have told me that it won’t happen again - but it happened. And, in this day and age, that just can’t be right.

“You don’t expect a decent experience with the NHS anymore and that is such a shame. I don’t want to go back in there.”

The incident was investigated by the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board.

A spokesman for the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, which manages Darent Valley Hospital, said: "We can confirm that a full investigation was conducted into this incident and, in the interests of full transparency and honesty per the National Patient Safety Strategy, each patient was notified with a full and frank apology.

"This also complies with the legal requirements of the duty of candour legislation, which ensures that providers are open and transparent with people who use their services.

"In addition, this was appropriately reported to the Information Commissioner’s office.

"In regards to the patient who is distressed following this incident (and anyone else affected who feels similarly), we would appreciate it if they could reach us via our helpline number, included in the letter they received, so that we can ensure that the necessary support is provided."