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NHS staff face immediate suspension for 'snooping' on patient medical data
Sir Jim Mackey said staff found snooping may lose their jobs and face criminal records as NHS trusts tighten patient privacy controls.
- On Friday, NHS England Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey announced a "zero-tolerance" policy requiring immediate suspension for staff suspected of unauthorized patient record access and system lockout during investigations.
- Recent cases involving victims of the Southport and Nottingham Killings, plus a toddler from Cambridgeshire whose records were viewed by around 40 hospital staff, triggered this enforcement escalation.
- Sir Jim warned that staff caught "abusing" trust face immediate removal, potential career termination, and criminal records. "If someone is suspected of snooping, we cannot leave them in post," he stated.
- Registered professionals such as doctors or nurses caught breaching privacy face referral to regulatory bodies, risking disciplinary action including being struck off their register.
- Investigations continue at Southmead Hospital into allegations involving 18-year-old Oliver McGowan's records, while the NHS emphasizes that guidance launched in July remains critical to preventing further breaches.
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NHS staff ‘snooping’ to be suspended - Southport victims' trust 'abused'
In May it emerged that dozens of staff at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group had looked at the records of victims of the 2024 Southport attack which left three girls dead and 10 others injured.
·Lancaster, United Kingdom
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NHS England chief says staff suspected of snooping on patients’ records should be suspended immediately
Jim Mackey says access to NHS systems should be cut off while allegations are investigated, as he urges trusts to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach NHS staff suspected of snooping on patients’ medical records should be suspended immediately and barred from using health service computers, the head of NHS England has said. Jim Mackey urged…
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Total News Sources9
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 33%
C 50%
R 17%
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