NHS workers who look at records without reason should be sacked, says Health Secretary after tiger attack
“If there are breaches then people actually need to be sacked”
NHS staff who inappropriately accessed the medical records of a man mauled to death by a tiger should be sacked, the Health Secretary has said.
Asked about reports William Chapman’s records may have been inappropriately accessed, Yvette Cooper told Sky News’s Sunday Morning: “I take this extremely seriously.
“I know there’s a specific investigation going into that case, but we just need to be absolutely clear.
“No member of NHS staff should be accessing records that they do not need to see for medical care, and reasons simply for something to do with voyeurism, or what is in the news, or any of that kind of reason.
“It is not only is it a total disgrace, but I’ve spoken to the NHS chief executive about this.
“We agree that if there are cases here of people inappropriately accessing medical records, then they should be suspended while the investigation takes place and we need a much swifter line on this because these are basic standards, and everybody across the NHS knows that these are the basic standards.
“The overwhelming majority of our NHS staff not only respect these standards but value these standards as these people need to say, and we have to have firm.”
Asked if people should be sacked, she added: “If there are breaches then people actually need to be sacked.”
Mr Chapman, aged 24, died after entering the ‘Land of the Tigers’ enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, last Saturday (October 10).
He was killed by Amur Tiger Altai, who will not be euthanised as a result of the incident.
An inquest into Mr Chapman’s death has been opened and will be held in March, next year.