Another trust investigates snooping on attack victims

An ambulance trust is now investigating whether staff snooped on Southport victim records, HSJ can reveal, intensifying calls for a national review into patient privacy.

North West Ambulance Service did not inform patients or their families – nor take disciplinary action – after identifying potential breaches, according to internal NHS documents.

It comes just weeks after another NHS trust was accused of attempting to cover up the inappropriate access of Southport victim records by dozens of staff, revealed by HSJ.

NWAS said it was still investigating the cases, two years after the attack on a children’s dance class in which three young girls were killed and many other people injured.

Chief executive Salman Desai told HSJ: “We have identified concerns about potential inappropriate access to patient records and are formally investigating the matter…

“We will contact families and patients who may have been affected as our enquiries progress… We are deeply sorry for the concern and distress this may cause.”

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Source: HSJ, 14 July 2026