A SENIOR surgeon who could not access important X-ray images when cable thieves hit computer systems has backed calls for action to prevent similar incidents in future.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dougie Russell suffered difficulties along with people in a number of Swansea hospitals and clinics when the thieves stole Virgin Media communication cables last month.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board has a back-up system for its main hospitals in the event of an incident like this but the flow of information is slowed and delays are caused, particularly for tasks like accessing X-ray images.

Mr Russell, ABM’s clinical director for musculo-skeletal services, said: “I couldn’t access the X-rays I needed, and this is not just an inconvenience, it has the potential to reduce the quality of care we can give patients. Thieves who steal communication cables don’t realise the consequences of their actions — it has a direct affect on NHS services.

“This is not the first time that cable theft has affected ABM hospitals and I welcome calls to tighten the law to prevent these thefts.”

ABM has been hit five times as a result of thieves stealing Virgin Media communications cables.

As well as the incident last week, there were two in 2010 and two in 2011.

The effect on ABM by the incident on February 2 was raised in the House of Commons last week by Swansea East MP Sian James in a cross-party debate on metal theft.

Mrs James said: “It is clear to me and others that we need a much tougher licensing regime for (scrap metal) dealers. We have to end this buying-at-the- back-door-mentality and require that anyone selling materials to scrap metal dealers prove their identity and provide documentation on where and when the metal was sourced.”

postnews@swwmedia.co.uk