Fresh figures reveal scale of data security incidents at London Ambulance Trust

London Ambulance Service's first fully electric vehicle (credit LAS) — (credit LAS)

Information obtained by Data Breach Claims UK shows that the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust has recorded more than 900 data breach incidents since 2022.

Ambulance services routinely collect and store highly confidential data, including details shared during emergency calls, patient assessments carried out at the scene, and medical information passed to hospitals during handovers.

The fast-paced, critical nature of this work means digital systems are heavily relied upon, placing ambulance trusts among the most exposed areas of the NHS to data protection risks.

During the 2022/23 financial year, the London Ambulance Service logged 216 data breaches, a figure that increased sharply to 353 incidents the following year, before falling slightly to 335 breaches in 2024/25.

Concerns around cybersecurity in emergency services have been echoed nationally. Earlier this year, cybersecurity firm NCC Group published research warning that UK blue light services are facing escalating digital threats, including a reported 15% rise in ransomware attacks during 2024.

Such attacks can disrupt critical systems and compromise emergency responders’ ability to deliver timely care.

Data breaches linked to ambulance services can affect not only patients but also staff members and third parties, such as relatives or carers.

While cyberattacks often attract the most attention, many incidents stem from everyday issues, such as system errors, human errors, or lost devices containing personal data.

Clare McMillan, chief digital officer at London Ambulance Service, said: “We take data security incredibly seriously and have robust security measures in place to keep people’s data safe as well as a culture which encourages transparency in recording breaches, however minor.

“The vast majority of breaches reported are minor incidents relating to clerical errors, record management, or system administration queries. Importantly, there have been no cyber related data breaches.”

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