NHS hospital staff suspended over ‘inappropriate’ access to Southport attack records

Two more NHS staff members have been suspended over allegations that they inappropriately accessed the medical records of Southport stabbing victims.

A “retrospective audit” by Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital identified the two cases in which staff had accessed the records of the victims of the 2024 attack on a children’s dance class.

In May, the Health Service Journal (HSJ) reported that staff at another hospital in the city, run by University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, had inappropriately viewed survivors’ files.

The group, which runs Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, said almost 50 of its staff had inappropriately accessed the records.

A separate investigation is also being held at North West Ambulance Service Trust in relation to staff looking up the victims of the attack without the right to do so.

Youngsters had been taking part in a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at Hart Space when Axel Rudakubana killed Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar in 2024.

Eight other children and two adults were injured, including Leanne Lucas, who was helping to run the class, and businessman John Haynes, who fought against the knife attack.

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital said it was “carrying out an investigation into two potential instances of inappropriate access connected to the Southport incident”.

It added: “The cases were detected as part of retrospective audit and two members of staff have been placed on precautionary suspension whilst an investigation is concluded.”

It said the case has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Care Quality Commission hospital regulator.

Manoj Kuduvalli, medical director at the trust, said: “We are deeply sorry that this has happened.

“Our patients trust us with their most personal information at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives, and any inappropriate access to those records is a serious violation of that trust.

“We have been clear with all colleagues that patient records must only ever be accessed for legitimate reasons connected to their role and the patient’s care.

“We will not accept behaviour that compromises patient confidentiality or undermines the trust our patients place in us.

“We have spoken to those that are affected and will keep them informed as our investigation continues.”