The father of a young girl who was severely injured in the Southport attack expressed his anger upon discovering that ambulance personnel might have violated her medical records during her critical condition. He has called for a thorough examination by NHS England regarding the protocols and consequences for staff members who inappropriately access patient information.
The girl, known as Child 6, was only 13 years old when she was stabbed in the back and arm by Axel Rudakubana while attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024. Fortunately, she survived the ordeal. Sadly, three other young girls lost their lives in the tragic incident.
The father stated, “It is a complete betrayal of trust during our most challenging times as a family, undermining the great efforts made by medical professionals to save lives.” The family discovered potential breaches at Aintree Hospital and North West Ambulance Service while reviewing documents provided by University Hospital Liverpool Group.
The document revealed that a few individuals from the ambulance service might have inappropriately accessed the incident. While NWAS has not taken formal disciplinary actions, they have reinforced their HR procedures. Fletchers Solicitors, representing most survivors of the attack, including Child 6, is investigating the breach by Aintree Hospital staff.
Expressing his dismay, the father remarked, “It was already extremely distressing to know that NHS staff at Aintree hospital had intruded into our daughter’s condition unnecessarily. Discovering that ambulance staff did the same within the first critical 24 hours is appalling. They seemed more interested in satisfying their curiosity than monitoring her well-being.”
Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, Associate Solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors, emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of NHS policies on patient data breaches. She highlighted the importance of ensuring patient confidentiality and transparency in such cases.
North West Ambulance Service’s Chief Executive, Salman Desai, acknowledged concerns about potential unauthorized access to patient records and assured a thorough investigation. He expressed regret for any distress caused and pledged to address the issue seriously.
The father called for stricter measures to prevent unauthorized access to patient data, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding patient privacy and deterring NHS staff from inappropriate snooping.
