Bristol Foundation NHS Trust is investigating allegations that multiple staff members accessed the medical records of an 18-year-old who died in 2016 without proper authorization. The patient’s mother, Paula McGowan, was informed that at least five staff members may have viewed her son’s records inappropriately, with some access occurring as recently as this year.
Three nursing staff members are undergoing formal investigation in connection with the case. A doctor who previously worked at the trust has voluntarily self-referred to the General Medical Council following the hospital’s inquiry. A separate staff member’s case is being reviewed independently. The trust stated it had voluntarily notified the Information Commissioner’s Office of the matter.
When McGowan requested information about record access following her son’s death, she was told that 38 individuals had viewed the data, with 637 items accessed and 67 printed. The trust determined that most access was legitimate and connected to complaints, legal proceedings, and a coroner’s inquest. However, three nursing staff members with no involvement in the patient’s care could not provide justification for their access. According to reporting, one nurse indicated general professional interest in anti-psychotic medications and learning disability care as a reason for viewing the records.
The investigation is part of a broader concern within the NHS regarding unauthorized access to patient records. A recent investigation found that at least 214 NHS staff members lost employment and approximately 2,000 faced sanctions for inappropriate data access over a five-year period. NHS leadership has emphasized that unauthorized record access constitutes a serious breach punishable by dismissal or criminal prosecution.
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