In Britain, 10 NHS staff removed from work over access to boy’s data — The Guardian

In the United Kingdom, an NHS medical trust has apologised to the family of three-year-old Noah Woods after unauthorised access to the medical records of the boy, who went missing in Suffolk and was later found dead. Ten employees have been removed from active duties or suspended pending the completion of an investigation, The Guardian reports.

Investigation into access to records

A trust spokesperson said that the possibility of disciplinary measures is also being considered in connection with the incident. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Martin Mansfield said the institution had unreservedly apologised to Noah’s family for the additional distress caused by the breach of trust.

According to Mansfield, unauthorised access to patient data is completely unacceptable. The case has been reported to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. After concerns emerged over the possible improper viewing of medical records, the trust launched an urgent internal investigation, secured the records and took steps to prevent further access without lawful clinical grounds.

NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey said on Friday that NHS staff would be immediately suspended if it was established that they had viewed patient data without permission.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Noah Woods’ disappearance and death

Noah Woods went missing during the day on 15 September after visiting a playground on Merriam Close in Brantham, Suffolk. According to Suffolk Police, the boy became separated from a relative. During the hearing into his death, it was reported that he had left the park through a gap in the fence.

More than 1,300 people joined the search. Metropolitan Police divers recovered the boy’s body from a pond known to local residents as Decoy Pond on 16 September. Suffolk Police said they did not consider his death suspicious.

The hearing into Noah’s death was opened and adjourned in Ipswich. The boy’s family asked for him to be remembered as a happy child.