New trust probes staff accessing Southport victims’ records

A second hospital in Liverpool has suspended two staff members while it investigates whether they viewed the medical records of the Southport attack victims without legitimate reason.

The potential cases were identified at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital in a “retrospective audit” of which staff had accessed the care records of victims of the 2024 attack on a children’s dance class.

It follows HSJ exclusively revealing in May that staff at another hospital in the city, run by University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, had inappropriately viewed survivors’ files.

An investigation is also ongoing into record access at North West Ambulance Service Trust in relation to the same attack. HSJ understands eight staff members are going through its disciplinary process.

LHCH said it has contacted those impacted by their investigation as well as the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Care Quality Commission.

Medical director Manoj Kuduvalli said: “We are deeply sorry that this has happened."

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Source: HSJ, 29 October 2026