NHS issues response after 10 staff removed from duty over Noah Woods’ medical records
The NHS has apologised to the family of Noah Woods after a data breach revealed the medical records of the toddler who tragically passed away earlier this month.
An inquest for the three-year-old on Friday revealed that he'd gotten away from his relative by escaping through a gap in a playground fence, which then prompted the huge search operation to try and bring him home.
However, the partially deaf and non-verbal toddler's body was found submerged in the nearby Decoy Pond, in Brantham, Suffolk, leaving the local community and his family devastated.
At an already hugely difficult time for Woods' family, the last thing they would have wanted is for information about their son to be leaked, and the NHS promised disciplinary action after the 'completely unacceptable' mistake.
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Launching an 'urgent' investigation, Dr Martin Mansfield, deputy chief medical officer at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, released a statement on the NHS website.
It read: "Any unauthorised access of patient data is completely unacceptable. We understand the significant distress it can cause patients and their families. It also undermines trust in our services. Safeguarding that trust is central to the care we provide.
“We have apologised unreservedly to Noah Woods’ family for the extra anguish this breach of trust has caused them at an already devastating time.
“As soon as we became aware of concerns that Noah’s medical records may have been viewed inappropriately, we launched an urgent internal investigation. Immediate steps were also taken to secure the records and prevent further access that was not for a legitimate, clinical reason.
“We have reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and we will continue to keep Noah’s family informed as our investigation progresses.
“We take any patient data breach seriously. We investigate thoroughly, and we will take disciplinary action where needed in response to our findings, in line with the Trust’s policies and procedures.”
Ten NHS staff have since been removed from duty or suspended in the wake of the data breach, which comes just over a week after Noah's death.
After his body was discovered, his father Rhys posted a heartbreaking tribute to his son on social media, while also thanking the thousands of people who turned up to help look for him after he was first reported missing.
Posting on Facebook, Rhys wrote: "As I’m sure you have all seen, the body that was found in Decoy pond is our little Noah.
"There are no words to describe the pain of this loss, we are all absolutely heartbroken, Noah was the sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give, and we are going to miss him so very much.
"It seems he has made an impact across the whole nation, you have all taken Noah into you’re own hearts, with all the overwhelming help, we were all just trying to bring him home to us safe and sound.
"A heartfelt thank you to everyone in our community (even far and wide) who came together to search for our boy, including: Suffolk, Norfolk, Met police forces, HM coastguard, Suffolk lowland, Fire service, Ambulance service, RTT catering, brantham leisure centre, Brantham village hall, local businesses, ST Michael’s church, private K-9 units, and so many more, and all of the people who gave up their time in their busy schedules to help us when we most needed it.
"The compassion shown by all of you will never be forgotten by us, and brought us comfort and strength at the darkest time of our lives.
"This was the most heartbreaking outcome for us, we were just hoping that he would be hiding somewhere obvious where someone could find him, that’s what we kept telling ourselves the whole time,
"With our love and deepest gratitude. From his daddy and mummy and little brother, Noah, you will be loved forever, you will never be forgotten and we miss you so so much, it has been a privilege to be your parents and be able to have packed so much love in the short three years you were with us."
James Moorhouse