10 NHS STAFF REMOVED FROM DUTY AFTER NOAH WOODS’ MEDICAL RECORDS WERE ACCESSED

Ten NHS staff members have been removed from active duty or suspended while an investigation is launched into the suspected unauthorised access of three-year-old Noah Woods’ medical records.

The development comes just days after an inquest heard new details about the final moments before Noah disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust confirmed on September 27 that an urgent internal investigation was underway after concerns were raised that Noah’s medical records may have been viewed inappropriately.

The trust said 10 employees had been removed from direct active duty or suspended pending further investigation. It stressed that the investigation was still ongoing and that disciplinary action would depend on its findings.

Dr Martin Mansfield, deputy chief medical officer at the trust, said unauthorised access to patient information was “completely unacceptable.”

The trust apologised to Noah’s family for what it described as the “extra anguish” caused at an already devastating time.

It has also reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and said steps were immediately taken to secure Noah’s records and prevent access that was not for a legitimate clinical reason.

The investigation follows the death of Noah, who disappeared from an under-fives play area in Brantham on September 15.

At an inquest in Ipswich on September 25, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told the hearing that Noah had been visiting the playground with a relative as part of his normal routine.

CCTV showed the three-year-old playing at around 2:13 p.m., with his last recorded appearance at approximately 2:37 p.m. Police said the CCTV was motion-activated and therefore did not provide continuous footage.

According to evidence given at the inquest, Noah left the playground through a gap in the fence and entered a memorial garden through an open gate.

He then headed towards nearby Decoy Pond while his relative tried to follow him.

The relative shouted after him, but after around 200 metres Noah could no longer be seen. Police were called and a huge search operation began.

Around 1,300 members of the public joined emergency services and specialist teams searching the area.

The following afternoon, Metropolitan Police divers recovered Noah from Decoy Pond, approximately five metres from the bank and among submerged tree roots. The water at that location was estimated to be around 1.8 metres deep.

Paramedics confirmed Noah’s death at 4:31 p.m. on September 16.

Suffolk Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious, although enquiries remain ongoing and the medical cause of death was still pending further investigation at the time of the inquest.

Noah’s family later described him as a “happy, cheeky, playful” little boy who loved laughing and playing.

His family said he adored his baby brother and was known for his affection, hugs and laughter. They asked people to remember Noah for the joy he brought to those around him rather than only for the circumstances of his death.

His mother, Charlie, also urged people to hold their children closer and cherish every moment with them.

Now, alongside the continuing investigation into Noah’s death, questions are being asked about how and why his medical records may have been accessed.

The NHS trust has said it will continue to update Noah’s family as the investigation progresses and will take disciplinary action where appropriate based on the findings.

For now, there is no public finding that all 10 employees deliberately accessed Noah’s records improperly. Their removal from duty or suspension is a precaution while investigators establish exactly what happened.

The case has also emerged amid wider scrutiny of inappropriate access to NHS patient records, with NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey recently calling for staff suspected of accessing records without a clinical reason to have their system access removed while investigations take place.

Noah’s family is now facing both the continuing inquest into his death and the separate investigation into the handling of his private medical information.