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The father of a young girl seriously injured in the Southport attack has publicly condemned the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) for what he calls a “complete breach of trust.” This criticism comes amid revelations that NWAS is investigating whether some of its staff improperly accessed the medical records of victims. Describing these actions as “appalling,” the father suggested that certain ambulance staff were driven by “morbid curiosity” rather than professional necessity.
Earlier reports surfaced in May regarding similar issues at Aintree Hospital, where some victims were treated. Dozens of hospital workers there were found to have viewed patient records without valid reasons. In response, NWAS chief executive Salman Desai confirmed that investigations are underway after identifying “concerns about potential inappropriate access to patient records.” The attack resulted in the deaths of three young girls—Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe—and left ten others physically harmed.
A father, whose 13-year-old daughter survived the attack after being stabbed, expressed deep disappointment amid these developments. He said, “It is a complete breach of trust in our darkest hours as a family and dampens how you feel about the amazing work they do to save lives.” The man, protected by anonymity, was present during the event as a supervisor when his daughter was wounded. Legal representatives for the girl and 21 other survivors have called upon NHS England to conduct a comprehensive review of current policies and disciplinary measures regarding staff who inappropriately access patient data.
Potential breaches are not limited to Aintree Hospital. Fletchers Solicitors, representing the affected families, are examining documents from the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG), which acknowledged that nearly 50 staff members at Aintree had unlawfully accessed victim records shortly after the attack. The lawyers uncovered information indicating that some NWAS personnel might have also accessed their client’s medical files without justification. Leanne Lucas, the dance instructor at the Taylor Swift-themed event and one of the three adult survivors, described the latest news as “devastating and horrified.” She reflected on the lasting trauma since July 29, 2024, saying, “To now learn of another potential data breach is deeply upsetting, particularly after staff at NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool wrongly accessed my medical records. It feels like insult added to injury.” She is awaiting confirmation from the ambulance trust on whether her records were included in the breach.
Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, an associate solicitor at Fletchers, highlighted the broader issue this situation exposes, stating, “The recent string of patient data breaches has shown there is a deep-rooted culture of snooping within the NHS.” She emphasized that patients already facing critical health challenges should not endure additional distress from breaches of privacy. Ryan-Donnelly has urged NHS England to thoroughly review existing policies governing inappropriate access to patient information by staff. Meanwhile, NWAS’s Salman Desai assured that affected families will be contacted as inquiries continue and reaffirmed that all improper access to information will be treated with utmost seriousness. NWAS has formally informed the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about the investigation.
UHLG, responsible for Aintree Hospital, has previously condemned the breach there as “inexcusable,” acknowledging changes have been made, although no staff members were dismissed. The ICO confirmed it is monitoring NWAS’s internal investigation and will evaluate evidence before deciding on any legal actions, including the possibility of criminal investigations for violations of data protection law. The ICO is also collaborating with the National Data Guardian and NHS England to tackle the wider problem of data breaches in the health sector. This comes against a backdrop of several recent cases involving unauthorized access to medical records, such as the investigations at Cambridge University Hospitals and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where multiple staff members have faced disciplinary measures or dismissal for similar misconduct
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