Up to 91 healthcare workers accessed the A&E records of the three people killed in the Nottingham attacks, it can be revealed, heaping fresh trauma on relatives.
The families of the victims of Valdo Calocane have described the actions of staff at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust as ‘gross and inexcusable voyeurism’.
It takes the number of public bodies where staff have been accused of illegally looking up details of the shocking triple murder to six, after police officers, prison and courts staff as well as council and mental health workers were also caught out.
Students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, were stabbed to death as they returned from a night out in the early hours of June 13 2023 by Calocane, who then killed 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates.
The paranoid schizophrenic was handed an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The Nottingham Trust, which runs the Queen’s Medical Centre where the victims were taken, has apologised and said it was investigating ‘concerns’ staff may have ‘inappropriately’ looked at their A&E records.
Barnaby’s mother Emma Webber told the Daily Mail: ‘The hospital trust have told us, in their written response to our questions, that 91 individuals are confirmed, so far, as having accessed the hospital records of Barney, Grace and Ian.
‘Whilst we know that a number legitimately needed to do so, it’s almost certain that a significant number did not.
School caretaker Ian Coates (left), 65 and students Barnaby Webber (centre) and Grace O’Malley-Kumar (right), both 19 were stabbed to death in Nottingham in the early hours of June 13 2023
Up to 91 healthcare workers accessed the A&E records of the three victims, it can be revealed (file photo)
‘It is sickening, disrespectful, unprofessional, and a gross invasion of privacy.’
She said the figure had only come to light as a result of the victims’ families asking for more detail into the actions of staff at the mental health trust in their treatment of Calocane.
Mrs Webber said: ‘I dread to think what else is yet to be uncovered.
‘All we can say with complete certainty is that each and every single person and agency and organisation that has so disgracefully failed our loved ones will be found out and fully held to account.
‘Enough is enough. We have to do better in this country.’
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, who represents the families, added: ‘Every week seems to bring fresh trauma to an already appalling situation. ‘We are actively seeking a complete audit trail of who accessed records, when, and for what purpose. We want to know whether any unlawfully accessed material has been shared.’
The families learned of the potential breach in a letter from the Trust’s Medical Director Manjeet Shehmar, who said an investigation was launched after a senior staff member reported a doctor for allegedly accessing the records without a legitimate reason.
The letter, seen by the Daily Mail, states that to date, the trust had identified 91 individuals who have had access to the data. It said that while ‘many’ would have a legitimate reason, all 91 would be included in an ‘initial fact-finding mission’.
The police have also been informed.
Killer Valdo Calocane was already wanted on a warrant for a prior assault, but officers made no attempt to arrest him at the time of the stabbing
It comes after HM Prison Service and HM Courts and Tribunal Service launched a probe over claims staff unlawfully accessed and shared images of the victims.
Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Council and Nottingham NHS mental health and acute care teams are also investigating breeches.
Last year PC Matthew Gell, who shared crude messages with his wife and friend, received a final written warning for accessing files on Calocane without authorisation.
A special Constable was also sacked for viewing body cam footage of the horror.
On Friday, the police watchdog announced it was reopening its investigation into the Nottingham attacks over claims it ignored discrepancies in the account of an officer who failed to arrest the killer.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had decided to reopen its investigation into the actions taken by Leicestershire Police after Valdo Calocane was accused of assaulting two co-workers.
Despite reports that Calocane – who was already wanted on a warrant for a prior assault – had punched one colleague and pushed another before reaching for a knife – officers made no attempt to arrest him or interview witnesses.
Pictured left to right: Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s brother James with her parents Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Dr Sinead O’Malley, Ian Coates’ son James and Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber
The hospital Trust denied 91 members of staff were under investigation but failed to say how many were.
In a statement, Dr Shehmar said the Trust was ‘investigating concerns that members of staff may have inappropriately accessed the medical records of Ian Coates, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber.’
Dr Shehmar said: ‘We have informed the families and will continue to keep them updated throughout the investigation.
‘The families of Ian, Grace and Barnaby have already had to endure much pain and heartache and I’m truly sorry that this will add further to their suffering.
‘Through our investigation, we will find out what happened and will not hesitate to take action as necessary.’
