East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to the family of three-year-old Noah Woods after ten staff members were removed from duty for allegedly accessing his medical records without permission. The trust described the breach as unacceptable and said it had caused the family further distress following Noah’s death.

Noah disappeared from a play area in Brantham, Suffolk, on 15 September after leaving through a gap in a fence and running towards Decoy Pond. His body was found the following day by police divers, about five metres from the bank and among submerged tree roots; police said his death was not suspicious. The trust has secured the records, reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office and begun an urgent investigation.