Key facts
- NHS staff who inappropriately accessed medical records of tiger victim should be sacked, Yvette Cooper said.
- Yorkshire ambulance service is investigating two staff for accessing records of William Chapman.
- William Chapman died last Saturday after being mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
- 15 NHS staff have been sacked for accessing records of victims of a 2023 Nottingham attack.
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has dismissed 15 staff and issued warnings.
- Nearly 50 staff members at Aintree hospital inappropriately accessed records of Southport knife attack victims.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that National Health Service (NHS) staff who inappropriately accessed the medical records of a man mauled to death by a tiger should be sacked. The incident follows reports of staff accessing details of victims from other high-profile cases. Yorkshire ambulance service is currently investigating two staff members for accessing information about William Chapman, who died last Saturday after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Cooper emphasized on Sky News that accessing records for reasons other than medical care, such as voyeurism or due to news coverage, is a "total disgrace." She confirmed she had spoken with the NHS chief executive and they agreed that individuals found to have inappropriately accessed medical records should be suspended pending investigation, with dismissals being the necessary outcome for breaches. This statement comes as 15 NHS staff have already been sacked for accessing records of victims from a 2023 Nottingham attack, where Valdo Calocane killed three people. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has dismissed 15 staff and issued numerous warnings as part of its investigation. Separately, nearly 50 staff members at Aintree hospital in Liverpool were found to have inappropriately viewed records of victims from a Southport knife attack earlier this year.