NHS England chief says staff suspected of snooping on patients’ records should be suspended immediately

Jim Mackey says access to NHS systems should be cut off while allegations are investigated, as he urges trusts to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach

NHS staff suspected of snooping on patients’ medical records should be suspended immediately and barred from using health service computers, the head of NHS England has said.

Jim Mackey urged NHS England’s 205 health trusts to pursue a “zero tolerance” approach to staff who are suspected of inappropriately accessing records.