The sanction, which was relayed by the NHS England boss to trusts in a letter, followed the latest in a string of data breach investigations last week.

Sir Jim said: ‘If someone is suspected of snooping, we cannot leave them in post with access to patients' records while an investigation takes days or weeks. From now on, we will expect them to be suspended and have their access to NHS systems cut off immediately, while the facts are established.'

Reaction

 Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of the NHS Alliance, said: ‘NHS leaders will … review the contents of this letter from NHS England in detail to ensure they are satisfying the national requirements.'

Ben Morrin, chief executive of NHS Employers (part of the NHS Alliance), said: ‘Employers have clear policies for dealing with issues of misconduct and gross misconduct. It is vital that fact finding and investigations are swift and fair. If, in light of these measures, a local policy or protocol needs adjusting, employers will involve their local trade unions.'

Further investigation

Meanwhile, in another incident East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) has launched an urgent internal investigation into a data breach involving access the digital medical records of three-year-old Noah Woods whose body was found in a pond in the village of Brantham, Suffolk on 16 September.

Dr Martin Mansfield, deputy chief medical officer and Caldicott Guardian – the senior person responsible for health and care information – at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), said:  ‘As soon as we became aware of concerns that Noah's medical records may have been viewed inappropriately, we launched an urgent internal investigation. Immediate steps were also taken to secure the records and prevent further access that was not for a legitimate, clinical reason.

‘We have reported the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office, and we will continue to keep Noah's family informed as our investigation progresses.'