A major investigation has been launched after the medical records of a three-year-old boy who was thrown into a crocodile enclosure were accessed by around 40 members of hospital staff. Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has referred itself to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and is investigating whether all the workers had a legitimate reason for viewing the information.
Incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst
The boy, from Cambridgeshire, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital last Thursday after the incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon. He is now in a stable condition. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later bailed after being assessed as not fit for interview. The suspect reportedly has learning difficulties and was on a trip with carers.
Hospital's Response
A CUH spokesperson said: "We have strict policies in place to safeguard patient data and we take any breach extremely seriously. We know the vast majority of our 13,000 staff understand the fundamental importance of maintaining patient confidentiality and uphold the highest professional standards. Where any member of staff is found to have accessed patient records without legitimate clinical or operational reasons we take robust disciplinary action, including dismissal. As part of our response to any breach, we notify both the ICO and apologise to patients and their families affected."
Victim's Condition
Cambridgeshire Police said on Monday that the boy was "no longer critical" and was "in a stable condition in hospital." It is understood that he was attacked by at least one crocodile after being thrown into the enclosure. Police were called to the zoo at 1:24 pm on Thursday by the ambulance service after reports that the boy had suffered serious injuries. The boy was pulled out by zoo staff, including Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo owner, who reportedly jumped into the enclosure to save him.
Previous Data Breach Case
Last week, a former healthcare worker was cautioned by the ICO for attempting to obtain and sell the medical records of the Princess of Wales.
