Midwife gets caution for accessing records at Dudley hospital
A midwife will not be struck off – despite accessing the medical records of more than 22 people to find out which one of her colleagues was pregnant.
Naomi Fletcher began spying on her colleagues' blood records at Russells Hall Hospital when she heard a rumour that one of them was carrying a baby.
The midwife gave herself away when she told a co-worker she knew she was not pregnant as she had browsed her file.
But she has escaped a ban following a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing.
Fletcher, who now works at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, was investigated where it was discovered she had inappropriately read through the confidential records of colleagues, patients and family.
Those investigations revealed she had accessed the files of 22 colleagues, patients, an ex-partner, and members of her own family in May and June 2013.
Fletcher was given a three-year caution at the hearing, which she did not attend.
The inquiry discovered that she had entered the names of 19 members of staff during one night shift and examined the bloods for eight of these people.
There were other incidents when she had done the same, including looking at records of her mother, ex-husband, ex-partner and her own children.
Fletcher admitted the charges.
Russells Hall Hospital, where Fletcher worked from October 2011 to October 2013 was unavailable for comment.
