More NHS staff sacked over attacks victims’ records
Nottingham NHS trust dismisses 15 staff over improper access to attack victims’ records
Constantvpn.com – Fifteen employees at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust have now been dismissed after medical records connected to the 2023 Nottingham attacks were accessed without a legitimate reason.
The trust had previously confirmed the dismissal of 11 staff members. In its latest update, it said four further people had been sacked following its investigation into inappropriate viewing of confidential patient information.
The victims of the attacks were Nottingham University students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, along with grandfather Ian Coates. All three were stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023. Calocane, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020, is being held under an indefinite hospital order in a high-security facility.
Further disciplinary action issued
Alongside the 15 dismissals, the trust has issued 15 final written warnings and two first written warnings. Two cases resulted in no further action after investigators concluded there was no case to answer.
NUH said the disciplinary process involved doctors, nurses, registered healthcare professionals and other members of staff. Relevant external bodies have been notified, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Medical Council, the Information Commissioner’s Office and Nottinghamshire Police.
The investigation has not concluded. It also covers possible improper access to the records of surviving victims Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski.
Medical information is among the most sensitive personal data held by public services. Staff may need to consult records as part of providing care or carrying out authorised duties, but accessing a file out of curiosity or without a work-related justification can breach confidentiality rules and lead to serious disciplinary consequences.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father condemns failures
Dr Sanjoy Kumar, the father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, expressed anger at the continued findings.
“I am appalled, it’s time to get a handle on these failures.”
He said the handling of deeply confidential information had been unacceptable.
“Clearly, the way that the highest confidential data, which is medical data, is being looked at by voyeuristic people in the NHS is disgraceful.”
Dr Manjeet Shehmar, NUH’s medical director, apologised to the families and stressed that there was no acceptable reason for viewing patient records without proper authority.
“There is simply no excuse for accessing the records of a patient without a legitimate reason and I hope this sends a really clear message – we will investigate and we will take action.”
“To lose a loved one in the way that the families of Ian, Grace and Barnaby have is heartbreaking enough. I am so sorry that they have had this further compounded by the actions of these staff members.”
New monitoring measures being tested
The trust is testing a new system intended to strengthen protection of patient records and identify potential breaches. It has also run a staff awareness initiative called Your Responsibility, Your Actions, Their Privacy, focused on data-protection duties and the consequences of failing to follow them.
Dr Shehmar said the organisation would continue to examine allegations of unauthorised access and take action where evidence supported it.
“We will continue to investigate inappropriate access to these records and take action as and where necessary.”
“Alongside this, we are doing all we can to educate our staff on appropriate access and how to keep the records of our patients safe. We are also introducing a new system which acts to detect possible data breaches.”
She added that the staff involved represented a small proportion of the wider workforce, while recognising the damage caused when confidentiality standards are broken.
“While the actions of these staff members are disappointing, we know that this represents a small number of our wider workforce.”
“We know staff across the trust are listening, learning and doing what they can to ensure that only lawful and justified access takes place in our hospitals.”
Inquiry continues to examine events before and after the killings
The initial dismissals were disclosed during the statutory Nottingham Inquiry, which is examining the circumstances leading up to the fatal attacks as well as the decisions made afterwards.
Led by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC, the inquiry heard evidence from 164 witnesses across 14 weeks between February and June 2026. Core participants then delivered closing submissions over two days in September. Its findings are expected to be published by May 2027.
The hearings examined how authorities dealt with Calocane in the years before the killings. Evidence considered by the inquiry included his four detentions under the Mental Health Act and prior police contact connected to violent incidents. The process has scrutinised missed opportunities and failures involving agencies including the NHS and police.
In the early hours of 13 June 2023, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were walking home after a night out when they were killed. Ian Coates was also killed during the attacks.
Calocane pleaded guilty in January 2024 to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, linked to paranoid schizophrenia. His indefinite hospital order means he remains detained for treatment and can only be released if it is considered safe under the relevant legal process.
NUH is not the only organisation where concerns have arisen over inappropriate viewing of information connected with the attacks. The continued investigation underlines the wider obligation on organisations holding sensitive data: access must be necessary, authorised and capable of being justified, especially when records concern people and families affected by a major tragedy.
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