Health secretary demands dismissals over alleged access to tiger victim’s NHS records

NHS employees found to have improperly accessed the medical records of a man killed by a tiger should lose their jobs, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has said.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is investigating two members of staff over concerns they may have accessed or attempted to access information about William Chapman without a legitimate reason. Mr Chapman died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster on 10 October.

Cooper said suspected employees should be suspended and have their access to NHS systems removed while investigations take place. She described viewing confidential records because a case was in the news as a serious breach of the standards expected across the health service.

The incident follows other cases involving unauthorised access to the records of people involved in high-profile tragedies. Fifteen employees at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust have been dismissed following an investigation into access to records connected with the 2023 Nottingham attacks.

NHS England has adopted a tougher approach to suspected snooping, requiring staff to be suspended immediately and denied access to patient systems while allegations are investigated. Those responsible may face dismissal and possible criminal consequences.

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