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NHS staff suspected of snooping on patient data to face immediate suspension
bbc.com • • world
Key Points:
- NHS England is implementing a "zero-tolerance crackdown" on unauthorized access to patient records, with immediate suspension and computer system lockout for suspected staff.
- The directive from NHS England CEO Sir Jim Mackey follows several high-profile data breaches, including cases involving attack victims and a deceased child whose records were accessed years after death.
- A national campaign will remind NHS staff of their responsibilities and the serious consequences of unlawful record access, emphasizing that offenders risk losing their careers and facing criminal charges.
- Over the past five years, at least 214 NHS staff have been dismissed and around 2,000 sanctioned for snooping on patient data, often motivated by curiosity about high-profile patients or personal connections.
- Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is investigating unauthorized access to the medical records of an 18-year-old deceased patient, with the family expressing deep concern and calling for stronger protective measures.
