NHS trust sacks 15 staff over attacks victims' records access

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 17:02 · Archive

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has dismissed 15 staff members for inappropriately accessing medical records of three people killed in stabbing attacks in June 2023.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has dismissed 15 staff members as part of an investigation into inappropriate access to the medical records of three victims of stabbing attacks in Nottingham. The trust also issued 15 final written warnings and two first written warnings. In two cases, no action was taken after investigators found no case to answer.

Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Nottingham students, and Ian Coates, a grandfather, were killed on 13 June 2023 by Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. Staff members investigated included doctors, nurses, registered healthcare professionals and other staff across a range of roles. Independent regulators including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council, Information Commissioner's Office and Nottinghamshire Police have been informed.

Dr Manjeet Shehmar, medical director at the trust, said: 'There is simply no excuse for accessing the records of a patient without a legitimate reason.' He apologised to the families, saying that losing a loved one in such circumstances was 'heartbreaking enough' without the 'further' harm caused by staff actions.

The trust is continuing to investigate inappropriate access to records of surviving victims Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski. The trust is introducing a new system designed to detect possible data breaches and is educating staff on appropriate access to patient records.

How it is being reported

• More Nottingham hospital staff sacked over access to attacks victims' filesDoctors, nurses, registered healthcare professionals have been investigatedNottinghamshire Live · 17 Oct, 16:16
• More NHS staff sacked over attacks victims' recordsNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust says a new system will be brought in to protect records.BBC Nottingham · 17 Oct, 14:18

In this story: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust · Barnaby Webber · Grace O'Malley-Kumar · Ian Coates · Valdo Calocane · Nottingham

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