More NHS staff sacked over Nottingham attacks victims' records

Additional staff members have been dismissed by an NHS trust after they were found to have improperly accessed the medical records of victims from the Nottingham attacks. On 13 June 2023, Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, along with grandfather Ian Coates, were fatally stabbed by Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. Previously, Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust announced in May the termination of 11 employees, and on Friday, it revealed the total number of dismissals connected to the investigation had increased to 15.

The families of the victims had previously expressed their support for the disciplinary measures but described the May update as “a kick in the teeth.” Dr. Manjeet Shehmar, medical director at NUH, underscored the seriousness of the breach, stating, “There is simply no excuse for accessing the records of a patient without a legitimate reason and I hope this sends a really clear message – we will investigate and we will take action.” She added her condolences to the families, saying, “To lose a loved one in the way that the families of Ian, Grace and Barnaby have is heartbreaking enough. I am so sorry that they have had this further compounded by the actions of these staff members.”

Alongside the dismissals, NUH has issued 15 final written warnings and two first written warnings. Two cases were concluded with no further action required. The trust confirmed that the staff involved span across various roles, including doctors, nurses, and registered healthcare professionals. Relevant regulatory bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Medical Council, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and Nottinghamshire Police have been informed about the breaches. To prevent future incidents, NUH is testing a new system designed to protect patient records and instantly alert the trust to possible unauthorized access.

NUH also launched a campaign titled “Your Responsibility, Your Actions, Their Privacy” to educate staff on data protection and the severe consequences of violations. Dr. Shehmar emphasized, “We will continue to investigate inappropriate access to these records and take action as and where necessary.” She reassured the public that while these breaches are disappointing, they represent a small fraction of the wider workforce, many of whom are committed to lawful and justified access to patient information. Investigations remain ongoing, including those concerning the medical files of the surviving attack victims Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller, and Marcin Gawronski.

The NUH is among several organizations where staff have been found to have improperly accessed information related to the fatal Nottingham attacks. In December 2024, an investigation began into allegations that Ministry of Justice (MoJ) staff unlawfully viewed computer files pertaining to the case. Court workers were also reported at a public inquiry in January 2024 to have inappropriately accessed details related to the attacks. Amy Holmes, the interim director general for the chief operating group at the MoJ, told the inquiry that she could not disclose specifics due to ongoing police investigations. The inquiry additionally revealed that seven probation service officers had accessed the information, with four recorded as having legitimate reasons and three without justification. However, both the probation service and the MoJ’s data protection unit judged the breaches not severe enough to require further disciplinary measures.

Furthermore, Nottinghamshire Police personnel were found to have repeatedly viewed footage and images connected to the attacks without a proper policing purpose. Following a complaint made by Barnaby Webber’s mother, Emma Webber, in March, the police force confirmed that it would conduct an audit on the frequency and appropriateness of these viewings to ensure compliance with protocols

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