NHS Trust Apologises for Noah Woods Medical Record Breach
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust investigates unauthorised access to data of three-year-old boy.
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The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has issued an apology to the family of three-year-old Noah Woods following a data breach involving his medical records. The trust acknowledged the "extra anguish" this incident has caused.
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Dr Martin Mansfield, deputy chief medical officer for the trust, described any unauthorised access of patient data as "completely unacceptable". He confirmed that immediate steps were taken to secure the records and prevent further unauthorised access. The trust has reported the incident to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and has begun an urgent investigation. Disciplinary action will be considered if necessary, according to a statement from the trust.
Background to the Incident
Noah Woods went missing on 15 September in Brantham, Suffolk. His body was discovered the next day by police divers in nearby water. A large-scale search operation involved at least 1,300 people assisting in the 24 hours before he was found. An inquest opened last week heard that the three-year-old had left a play area through a gap in a fence. Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill described the death as "very sad and tragic" when opening and adjourning the inquest in Ipswich.
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Noah's family described him as a "happy, cheeky, playful" boy who enjoyed laughing. His mother urged parents to "hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment."
Questions this report answers
+What has the NHS trust apologised for?
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to the family of Noah Woods for a data breach involving his medical records. The trust stated that this incident caused "extra anguish".
+What action is the trust taking?
The trust has launched an urgent investigation into the data breach and reported the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office. They have also taken steps to secure the records and will consider disciplinary action if required.
+Who was Noah Woods?
Noah Woods was a three-year-old boy who went missing on 15 September in Brantham, Suffolk. His body was found the following day by police divers. His family described him as a "happy, cheeky, playful" child.
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