NHS trust probes staff for unauthorised access to deceased teen's records
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is investigating several staff members for possibly viewing the medical records of Oliver McGowan, an autistic teenager who died in 2016, without a legitimate reason.
Paula McGowan, whose 18-year-old son Oliver died in 2016 at Southmead Hospital, discovered that 38 people had viewed his records since his death, with 637 items accessed and 67 printed. While most accesses were linked to legal and coroner proceedings, three nursing staff with no care involvement are being formally investigated for unauthorised viewing. A former doctor has voluntarily referred himself to the General Medical Council, and a fourth employee’s case is under separate review.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust has referred the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office and expressed deep regret for the anxiety caused. The trust emphasised that any breach of patient confidentiality would be taken seriously and dealt with through appropriate processes.
