NHS trust suspends 10 staff over alleged access to dead child’s records

An NHS trust has apologised to the family of three-year-old Noah Woods after saying unauthorised people accessed his medical records following his disappearance and death in Suffolk. The trust said 10 employees had been removed from active duty or suspended while investigations were concluded. It said disciplinary action was being considered and that the incident had been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Dr Martin Mansfield, the trust’s deputy chief medical officer, said the organisation had apologised “unreservedly” for the additional anguish caused to Noah’s family. He described unauthorised access to patient data as “completely unacceptable”. The trust said it launched an urgent internal investigation after learning that Noah’s records might have been viewed inappropriately.

It also said immediate measures were taken to secure the records and prevent further access unless it was for a legitimate clinical reason. Noah disappeared from a playground in Merriam Close, Brantham, on the afternoon of 15 September, according to Suffolk police. He became separated from a relative after visiting the playground.

More than 1,300 members of the public joined the search before police found his body in Decoy Pond the following afternoon. Suffolk police said Noah’s death was not being treated as suspicious. An inquest was opened and adjourned in Ipswich on Friday.

The family said they wanted Noah to be remembered as a happy, cheeky and playful child who loved to laugh and brought joy to those around him. His father, Rhys Woods, described him as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy”. The case comes as NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey said staff found accessing patient records for unauthorised reasons should be suspended immediately.

He said there had been too many cases of staff abusing public trust.