The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has launched an investigation into allegations that its staff improperly accessed the medical records of victims of the Southport attack.
This inquiry follows an earlier revelation in May that dozens of employees at Aintree Hospital, where some of the injured were treated, had accessed patient records without a legitimate reason. The father of one of the young girls injured in the July 2024 attack expressed his dismay, stating he was "appalled" by the possibility and suggesting staff may have been motivated by "morbid curiosity."
Three young girls—Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe—died in the attack, and 10 others sustained physical injuries. Solicitors representing the girl and 21 other survivors are urging NHS England to conduct a comprehensive review of the guidance and disciplinary procedures for healthcare staff who access patient data inappropriately.
The renewed scrutiny emerged after solicitors reviewing documents from University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG), which manages Aintree Hospital, noted information suggesting potential unauthorized access by NWAS staff to their client's records. The father of a survivor, who was 13 at the time of the attack, described the potential breach as a "complete breach of trust in our darkest hours," adding that it overshadowed the positive work done by medical professionals.
NWAS Chief Executive Salman Desai confirmed the trust's awareness of the concerns. "We have identified concerns about potential inappropriate access to patient records and are formally investigating the matter," Desai stated.