The data loss occurred on August 18 during routine technical maintenance at Nottingham University Hospitals. Staff attempted to copy a radiotherapy database but accidentally overwrote a maternity records database due to human error. The incident involved the use of incorrect pre-written computer instructions that were originally designed for a different hospital system.
The affected database contained viewing history for maternity records from September 2011 to November 2022. While the hospital successfully restored clinical information such as test results and care notes, it could not recover the audit logs showing who accessed these records during that eleven-year period. The hospital stated that no patient information was accessed or used inappropriately.
Chief digital and information officer Andy Callow confirmed that an internal investigation is complete and new technical controls are being implemented. Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Police are evaluating whether this incident affects an ongoing broader investigation into maternity care at the facility. No criminal charges have been filed at this time, and police are attempting to retrieve the lost data.
