AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after hundreds of personal medical documents were found dumped beside a canal between Barrowford and Foulridge.

The confidential documents featured information about patients from across East Lancashire including names, addresses and whether they had HIV, syphillis or had suffered from a heart attack.

Pendle Denture Centre, in Market Square, Nelson, said it was investigating how the files had gone missing when the business relocated from its former base in Yorke Street, Burnley.

But patients and a councillor hit out at the centre, a private practice which provides dentures, for failing to take care of the records, saying it was “outrageous” that they had been lost.

Lancashire Police said that they had not been informed about the loss of the records but warned that the details contained could have been used for identity fraud.

Retired court clerk Lew Lincoln, from Barrowford, was walking his dog along the Leeds Liverpool Canal, near Slipper Hill Reservoir, when he came across the files.

Loosely wrapped in a black bin liner, Mr Lincoln said there were around 100 to 200 medical files, some of which contained signed and dated invoices from late 2006 and early 2007.

He said: "The files contained names, addresses, telephone numbers, details of whatever medication they may have been on.

"But it also had sections for whether they were suffering from HIV, and other personal medical information.

"I am only concerned that there is lot of information on the forms which, while it might not give to much away in the main, contains highly personal details."

Brian Harris, 73, from Rawtenstall, was one of the patients whose records were lost. He said he was ‘angry’ that his personal details have been disclosed in such an ’unprofessional manner’.

Mr Harris said: “I am concerned that my personal details have been lost.

“The information should have been locked away safely and now my details have been exposed. It is terrible this has left me in a vunerable position.”

Burnley Denture Centre, in Yorke Street, Burnley closed last year and re-opened as Pendle Denture Centre in Nelson.

Marcus Massey, the manager at Pendle Denture Centre, said an internal investigation is being carried out but the files had now been recovered.

He said: ”Patient information was stolen when the centre was being refurbished.

“It’s hard to say how they went missing but numerous building contractors were used and the matter will be investigated.

“To our knowledge all files have been retrieved and files are now secure. We have changed to electronically recording patient’s medical and dental history to prevent this happening again.”

Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle says the company’s attitude to security had caused ‘unnecessary upset’.

He said: “This is outrageous and totally unbelievable.

“How can people misplace confidential medical information? Somebody needs to look into the matter.”

Sergeant Phil Broughton, from Burnley police, said: "Identity theft costs individuals and organisations vast amounts of money every year.

“It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that all letters and documents containing personal details are disposed of safely to ensure that they cannot be picked up and used by offenders who may assume their identity and then go on to commit criminal offences."