NOAH WOODS CASE TAKES NEW TURN AS 10 NHS STAFF REMOVED FROM DUTY OVER MEDICAL RECORD ACCESS

The tragic case of three-year-old Noah Woods has taken a new turn after an NHS trust launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorised access of his medical records.

Noah, from Suffolk, was found dead in a pond on September 16, one day after he disappeared from a children’s play area in Brantham.

Now, the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that 10 employees have been removed from active duty or suspended while an investigation is carried out into concerns that Noah’s medical records may have been accessed inappropriately.

The trust has apologised to Noah’s family and reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

NOAH DISAPPEARED DURING A TRIP TO THE PLAYGROUND

Noah was being cared for by a relative as part of what police described as his normal routine when he visited an under-fives play area in Merriam Close, Brantham, on the afternoon of September 15.

An inquest at Suffolk Coroner’s Court heard that CCTV captured Noah playing in the area at around 2:13 p.m., with the last recorded footage showing him at approximately 2:37 p.m.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told the hearing that the CCTV system was motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous footage.

Noah subsequently left the play area through a gap in the fence, entered a memorial garden and then went through an open gate.

He headed in the direction of nearby Decoy Pond while the relative followed closely behind.

Police said the relative shouted after him, but after approximately 200 metres Noah could no longer be seen.

A major search operation was immediately launched.

1,300 PEOPLE JOINED THE SEARCH

The disappearance triggered an enormous response from emergency services and the local community.

Around 1,300 members of the public joined police and specialist search teams looking for Noah.

Suffolk Police were supported by multiple agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Dive Team, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the National Police Air Service, the ambulance service and Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue.

The search continued through the night.

The following afternoon, Metropolitan Police divers recovered the body of a child from Decoy Pond.

The body was found approximately five metres from the bank, among submerged tree roots, at an estimated depth of 1.8 metres.

Noah was formally identified by his mother, Charlie Peck, at Ipswich Hospital later that day.

Paramedics confirmed his death at 4:31 p.m.

Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious. The medical cause of death remained pending further investigation when the inquest was opened and adjourned.

FAMILY REMEMBERS “THE HAPPY LITTLE BOY THAT HE WAS”

After Noah’s death, his family released a deeply emotional tribute.

They described him as a “happy, cheeky, playful three-year-old boy” who loved laughing and giggling.

Noah had been undergoing an assessment for autism but had not received a diagnosis. His family said he also had mild hearing loss and was speech delayed, while learning new words and developing his own voice.

His father, Rhys Woods, previously described him as the “sweetest and most innocent little boy” with “nothing but love to give.”

Noah’s mother, Charlie, asked people to remember the importance of cherishing time with their children.

She said: “Hold their children a little tighter, cherish every moment, and never take those precious memories for granted.”

NHS TRUST APOLOGISES OVER MEDICAL RECORDS

The latest development has now brought renewed attention to Noah’s medical records.

On September 27, the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust said it had launched an urgent internal investigation after concerns were raised that Noah’s records may have been viewed without a legitimate clinical reason.

Ten employees have been removed from active duty or suspended while the investigation continues.

The trust stressed that any unauthorised access to patient data is unacceptable and said immediate measures had been taken to secure Noah’s records and prevent further inappropriate access.

The trust has also reported the matter to the ICO, the UK’s independent data-protection regulator.

Dr Martin Mansfield, the trust’s deputy chief medical officer, apologised directly to Noah’s family for what he described as the additional anguish caused at an already devastating time.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The trust said disciplinary action could be taken depending on the findings of its investigation.

However, the current announcement does not establish that all 10 employees deliberately accessed Noah’s records improperly. They have been removed from duty or suspended while investigators establish what happened.

Meanwhile, the inquest into Noah’s death has been adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

Police continue to regard his death as non-suspicious, while the medical cause of death remains subject to further investigation.

For Noah’s family, the latest development comes only days after an entire community joined the search for their little boy.

More than 1,300 people searched for him.

They hoped to bring Noah home safely.

Instead, his family is now facing another painful investigation while waiting for answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Noah’s family have asked that he be remembered not for the tragedy, but as the happy, affectionate little boy who loved to run, play, laugh and be close to the people he loved.