Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has said that NHS staff who inappropriately accessed the medical records of a man mauled to death by a tiger should be sacked. Ms Cooper described such incidents as a "total disgrace" during an appearance on Sky News on Sunday.
The Yorkshire ambulance service confirmed on Friday that it is investigating two staff members who inappropriately accessed information about William Chapman. Mr Chapman died after being mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park last Saturday.
Ms Cooper stated that any NHS staff found to have inappropriately accessed medical records should be suspended during investigations and dismissed if breaches are confirmed. This follows earlier reports this year of staff unnecessarily viewing details about Southport attack victims and those murdered in Nottingham in 2023.
It emerged on Saturday that 15 NHS staff have been sacked by Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust for accessing medical records belonging to victims of a 2023 Nottingham attack. The trust also issued 15 final written warnings and two first written warnings as part of its investigation.