Ten NHS staff have been removed from duty or suspended following a data breach involving the medical records of three-year-old Noah Woods, it has been confirmed on Sunday morning.
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to Noah's family for the "extra anguish" caused by the unauthorised access and launched an "urgent" investigation.
Trust apologises and launches investigation
Dr Martin Mansfield, the trust's deputy chief medical officer, said any unauthorised access to patient data was "completely unacceptable". A trust spokesperson said 10 employees had been "removed from active duty or suspended whilst investigations are concluded", with disciplinary action to be taken if necessary.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Dr Mansfield said immediate steps had been taken to secure Noah's records and prevent any further access that was not for a legitimate clinical reason. He said the trust had also reported the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and would continue to keep Noah's family informed as the investigation progresses.
Background to the case
Noah went missing from the village of Brantham, Suffolk, on 15 September, prompting a major search involving at least 1,300 people. His body was found the following day in nearby water by police divers.
His family described him as a "happy, cheeky, playful" boy who loved to laugh. His mother urged other parents to "hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment".
Inquest opened
An inquest into Noah's death opened on Friday in Ipswich and heard that the three-year-old had left a play area "through a gap in the fence". Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill described his death as a "very sad and tragic" one before opening and adjourning the inquest.
