NHS Tayside investigates staff access to 9-year-old girl's medical records
Published: 07/08/2026
| The Register
NHS Tayside is investigating a personal data breach involving the medical records of Minnie Merriman, a nine-year-old girl who died after being found severely injured on 3 August. The unauthorised access reportedly occurred in a working clinical area at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where staff members allegedly accessed her patient records without clinical need.
The health trust confirmed that any data protection breach is recorded, investigated internally, and, where appropriate, reported to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). NHS Tayside declined to comment further on specific staffing matters, the nature of the accessed data, or who was involved in the intrusion.
Merriman died at Ninewells Hospital shortly after being discovered at Elliot Industrial Estate. A 35-year-old man known to the child was arrested and appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on 5 August charged with her death.
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