Southport and Nottingham attack victims call out NHS snooping

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Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, partner at Fletchers Solicitors which penned the letter, said: “We have written and published this open letter because victims of NHS snooping have had enough.

“Every week in the media we are learning of a new breach into patient’s medical records by staff who have no legitimate cause to access them.

“Among the child Southport survivors I represent, many of their parents do not feel they have a voice to speak out about how this has affected them.

“They had hoped that their anonymity would protect their children’s most vulnerable and difficult moments, but the truth is staff have repeatedly abused their position to pry into their most private and sensitive information.

“Anybody, no matter who they are or what they have been through, should feel confident and that staff will protect their privacy and dignity while they are being treated or cared for by the NHS and other agencies.

“Stronger sanctions and dismissals for NHS staff who snoop is a step in the right direction, but it does not do enough to address the problem.

“We have to instil a new culture in our health system and give victims a powerful voice to challenge breaches.”