Yvette Cooper has called for firm disciplinary action as Yorkshire Ambulance Service investigates whether two employees improperly accessed information about William Chapman after his death at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The Health Secretary said no NHS employee should look at records they do not need for a patient's care, including out of curiosity about a case in the news. She described such conduct as a serious breach of basic professional standards.
Cooper said staff under investigation for this kind of suspected breach should be suspended while inquiries take place. She added that dismissal should follow if the allegation is proved.
The ambulance trust has said its proactive audits identified two possible instances involving two staff members accessing, or trying to access, incident or medical information without a legitimate reason. It has opened an investigation, informed Chapman's family and reported the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office.
The investigation has not yet established misconduct, and Cooper's comments set out the consequence she believes should follow a confirmed breach rather than a finding against either employee.
The case follows other investigations into inappropriate access to the records of victims in high-profile incidents. Cooper said she had discussed the issue with the NHS chief executive and wanted a faster, firmer response across the health service.
The intervention places patient confidentiality and the handling of suspected breaches under renewed scrutiny, with the trust's investigation still responsible for determining the facts of the two cases.
