NHS ambulance trust investigates claims staff accessed Southport victims’ records

An NHS trust is investigating allegations that its staff inappropriately accessed the medical records of children injured in the July 2024 Southport attack.

• North West Ambulance Service chief executive Salman Desai said the trust is formally investigating potential inappropriate access to patient records.
• The father of one victim accused staff of accessing records to satisfy "morbid curiosity" and called it a breach of trust during his family's "darkest hours".
• Dance class instructor Leanne Lucas, who was critically injured in the attack, said she was "devastated and horrified" by the potential data breach.
• Solicitors acting for 21 survivors called for a full-scale NHS England review of guidance and disciplinary procedures for staff who inappropriately access patient data.