Mother of teen who died ‘deeply hurt’ that NHS staff may have accessed son’s records inappropriately

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said it was undertaking a "thorough investigation" and it would beryllium "inappropriate to scope conclusions earlier those enquiries are complete".

"Every diligent and household has the close to expect that their idiosyncratic accusation volition beryllium treated with care, respect and confidentiality," said Prof Steve Hams, the trust's main nursing and betterment officer.

"Any interest that records whitethorn person been accessed without a morganatic crushed is thing we instrumentality highly seriously."

The spot said that, should immoderate unit misconduct beryllium identified, "appropriate enactment volition beryllium taken done the applicable processes".

NHS aesculapian records tin incorporate highly delicate idiosyncratic information, ranging from trial results and infirmary discharge summaries to details of prescriptions and medications.

That extends good beyond the accusation disposable to patients done the NHS app and whitethorn see safeguarding concerns, hazard assessments, correspondence betwixt healthcare professionals and elaborate consultation notes.

There is nary azygous NHS-wide physics grounds strategy that each subordinate of unit tin access.

Instead, organisations including GP practices, hospitals and specializer clinics support their ain records and find who tin presumption peculiar information.

Doctors, nurses and different healthcare unit often request accelerated access, peculiarly successful emergencies.

However, they should lone presumption confidential accusation erstwhile they person a morganatic work-related crushed and the close authorisation.

IT systems support an audit way that should beryllium capable to amusement precisely who accessed a patient's records and when.

NHS England said immoderate lawsuit of unit looking astatine records without a valid crushed would beryllium "wholly unacceptable, a disgraceful breach of patients' spot and against the law".

"We person been crystal wide that unit could look disciplinary enactment for immoderate breaches, including the nonaccomplishment of their occupation and imaginable transgression prosecution," added a spokesman.