LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL SUSPENDS TWO STAFF OVER SOUTHPORT RECORDS PROBE

Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust has suspended two staff members while it investigates whether they accessed the medical records of people affected by the 2024 Southport stabbings without a legitimate reason. The trust said a retrospective audit identified two potential instances of inappropriate access. It said the suspensions were precautionary while the investigation continues. The trust has contacted those affected and informed them about the investigation. It has also referred the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Care Quality Commission.

Axel Rudakubana killed Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar during an attack on a children’s dance class at Hart Space in Southport in July 2024. Eight other children and two adults were injured. They included Leanne Lucas, who was helping to run the class, and John Haynes, who fought the attacker. The class had a Taylor Swift theme. The trust has not identified the suspended staff members’ roles or said whose records they may have accessed.

Manoj Kuduvalli, medical director at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, said: “We are deeply sorry that this has happened.” He said staff must access patient records only for legitimate reasons linked to their roles and patients’ care. University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, which runs Aintree Hospital, said in May that almost 50 of its staff had inappropriately viewed survivors’ records. North West Ambulance Service Trust is also investigating staff access to records of people affected by the attack. Kuduvalli said the trust would keep affected patients informed as its investigation continues.