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A hospital investigation has been initiated after the medical information of a young child, seriously injured in a crocodile enclosure, was accessed by as many as 40 members of staff. The three-year-old boy, who suffered severe injuries during the incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, remains in stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) is currently reviewing whether there were legitimate clinical or operational reasons for the access to the boy’s records. The trust has also reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). A spokesperson from CUH emphasized the organisation’s commitment to patient confidentiality, stating, “Where any member of staff is found to have accessed patient records without legitimate clinical or operational reasons we take robust disciplinary action, including dismissal.” They further acknowledged the importance of maintaining strict patient data security and confirmed that the boy’s family has been informed of the ongoing investigation.
The incident occurred on 18 June when police responded to the call about the boy’s injury at the zoo. The child, visiting with his family, sustained serious harm while inside the crocodile enclosure, from which zoo staff promptly removed him. Following the attack, a 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and subsequently released on bail. Police confirmed that the boy’s condition improved from critical to stable after receiving emergency medical treatment both at the scene and later at Addenbrooke’s.
While there are protocols in place to restrict access to sensitive medical records, these appear to have been breached in this case. The CUH spokesperson reiterated their strict policies protecting patient information and explained that any breach prompts notifications to the ICO and apologies to those affected. The hospital is continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the data access as part of its response to the incident
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