Hundreds sacked for snooping on patient records

More than 200 NHS staff have been sacked and around 2,000 others sanctioned for inappropriately viewing patient records over the past five years, HSJ can reveal.

However, concerns have been raised that these recorded cases only represent the “tip of the iceberg” of snooping. A joint investigation by HSJ and Sky News found that at least 25% of trusts had no recent or proactive audits to check for such breaches.

The investigation, which comprises data from 140 trusts, paints the first national picture of NHS staff record snooping, following revelations across multiple trusts in recent months.

The audit has exposed:

• A staff member accessing their spouse’s records in a “potential domestic violence situation”.

• One employee’s dismissal after they viewed up to 179 patient records without legitimate reason.

• Staff sharing patient information on WhatsApp group chats.

Commons health and social care committee chair Layla Moran told HSJ the figures painted a “stark picture” and “the security of personal and medical data is sacred”.

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Source: HSJ, 7 September 2026