A breach at a scandal-ridden NHS trust deliberately wiped out data involving hundreds of maternity cases at the UK's Nottingham University Hospitals – linked to the biggest review of maternity failings in NHS history, reports the BBC.
An inquiry had revealed that more than 500 mothers and babies came to harm or died because of inadequate care at Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital – both under Nottingham Trust.
In the July 2024 data breach, according to an independent investigation on the heels of a police inquiry into the issue, the files were “methodically and selectively deleted”.
Jack Hawkins, whose daughter Harriet was stillborn at Nottingham City Hospital, said it was “terrifying” that the individual who deleted the files could not be identified by any investigation.
The trust has apologised for the distress caused by the breach – and for a further data incident in August this year.
An investigation was carried out independently by a barrister into the 2024 incident, after a Nottinghamshire Police probe in June last year, had concluded that the deletion was “most likely to be the action of an individual” but the loss “was not caused or contributed to by any systemic corruption within the trust”.
Families affected by maternity failings at the trust were told the files were “most likely” deleted intentionally or maliciously.
A barrister independently found the information which was deleted would have been relevant to both the senior coroner and the independent review of maternity failings led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.
The deleted material was restored but “due to the absence of auditing information, it was not possible to identify who had deleted the files”.
The independent investigation was also unable to find a motive, but concluded it was a possibility that the deletion could have been connected to concerns about scrutiny of historic record-keeping, and “could have been intended to create the impression that another person was responsible”.
The chief executive of the trust Anthony May had apologised and said immediate steps had been taken when the trust became aware of the breach.
“Nottinghamshire police investigated … and concluded the deletion was most likely deliberate and intentional, but were not able to identify a responsible individual,” he said.
“We then commissioned a further independent investigation, which reached the same conclusion, and provided a number of recommendations we are following up on to improve our records keeping.”
Adding to the blow
Further maternity records of women and babies who received care between September 2011 and November 2022 were overwritten during “technical work” on 18 August this year.
When informed of the incident, Nottinghamshire Police said it was assessing its impact on Operation Perth – the investigation into deaths and injuries related to maternity care at the main two hospitals run by the trust.
May said: “We recognise this has caused further harm to families whom we have failed previously and we are very sorry… the data was overwritten as a result of a human error during a routine technical process. Immediate action was taken to recover it.
“The information needed to support patient care was restored, but we have been unable to fully restore audit records showing who viewed maternity records between September 2011 and November 2022.
“A full investigation was conducted, and we informed the Information Commissioner’s Office and Nottinghamshire Police, all of which concluded there was no malicious intent found.”
A number of next steps and recommendations were made as a result of both reports, which the trust said it was following up on.
BBC article – Maternity data deleted ‘methodically and selectively’ (Open access)
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