New measures to protect confidential patient information are to be introduced following a report into patient records being found in a disused Tayside hospital.

The Scottish Government has accepted all the recommendations from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland into the Strathmartine Hospital case, where patient information was discovered after the building had ceased to be used.

Key among the recommendations are removing all files from disused buildings, disposing confidential information that is no longer required, thorough data protection training for all NHS Scotland staff, and guidance on managing patient information when health professionals retire.

"Patients deserve to know that their right to confidentiality will be protected by the people who care for their health," Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said.

"That means some rules need to be tightened and, just as importantly, that NHS staff need to be aware of exactly what their responsibilities are when it comes to information that can identify patients.

"This Government is accepting NHS QIS's recommendations in full, and can assure patients that work is already underway to take these forward and ensure the security of all our health information."

She also stressed that the Strathmartine Hospital case was "an isolated incident", while accepting this did not excuse the data security lapse.