NOTTINGHAM NHS TRUST SACKS FOUR MORE STAFF OVER VICTIMS' RECORDS

Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust says it has sacked four more staff for inappropriately accessing the medical records of victims of the 2023 Nottingham attacks. The dismissals bring the total in its investigation to 15, up from 11 announced in May. The trust says it has also issued 15 final written warnings and two first written warnings. It found no case to answer in two cases and took no action. NUH said those disciplined included doctors, nurses, registered healthcare professionals and other staff.

Valdo Calocane stabbed Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and grandfather Ian Coates, to death on 13 June 2023. Calocane had received a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's father, said: "I am appalled, it's time to get a handle on these failures." Dr Manjeet Shehmar, NUH's medical director, said: "There is simply no excuse for accessing the records of a patient without a legitimate reason and I hope this sends a really clear message – we will investigate and we will take action."

NUH said it had informed the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Medical Council, the Information Commissioner's Office and Nottinghamshire Police. The trust says it is testing a system intended to protect patient records and alert it to potential breaches. NUH has also run a campaign called Your Responsibility, Your Actions, Their Privacy to teach staff about data protection rules and the consequences of breaking them. Shehmar said the trust would continue to investigate inappropriate access and take action where necessary.