HEALTH workers in Cornwall are being to urged to contact their bank after a computer containing their records was stolen from the Royal Cornwall Hospital containing financial records.

The computer was taken from a locked and alarmed room on Monday night. Although the police are saying it is unlikely to have been stolen for identity theft staff are being urged to register with a fraud prevention service and keep an eye on their statements.

A statement issued by the trust said: "We can confirm that a computer containing personal information of Cornwall NHS employees has been stolen from a locked and alarmed NHS premises in Truro, which was forcibly entered. No patient information was stored on the computer.

"Although it is believed the theft was opportunistic and not for the purpose of obtaining the information stored on the computer, as a precaution staff have been advised to contact their banks to advise them of the theft and to consider registration with a fraud prevention service.

"The theft is under investigation by the Police and will also be the subject of an internal investigation. Clearly, we are very sorry for any inconvenience or anxiety this may have caused staff."