East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust apologised after the Noah Woods data breach and launched an urgent investigation into access to the three-year-old’s medical records. Dr Martin Mansfield said any unauthorised access of patient data was “completely unacceptable”.
The trust said it had taken immediate steps to secure the records and stop further access that was not for a legitimate, clinical reason. It also reported the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office and said it would keep Noah’s family informed as the investigation continues.
Dr Martin Mansfield statement
Mansfield, the trust’s deputy chief medical officer, said the breach caused extra anguish to Noah’s family. The trust said disciplinary action will be taken if needed, which gives the investigation a formal internal route if it identifies staff involvement.
The breach sits alongside, but separate from, the inquest into Noah Woods’ death. On Friday, assistant coroner Jyoti Gill opened and adjourned the inquest in Ipswich after hearing that Noah had left a play area through a gap in the fence.
Noah Woods in Suffolk
Noah went missing on 15 September in Brantham, Suffolk. A major search followed, with at least 1,300 people helping over the next 24 hours before police divers found his body the next day in nearby water.
His family described him as “happy, cheeky, playful” and said he loved to laugh. His mother urged other parents to “hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment”, a reminder of why the trust’s apology is landing in a family already dealing with loss.
What happens next for Noah Woods
The open question now is simple: how many people accessed the records, and what information was viewed. The trust has already said it will continue the investigation, and any finding of improper access could bring disciplinary action as well as scrutiny from the Information Commissioner's Office.
