A terminally ill woman has spoken out about her 'violation and humiliation' after she alleges that several staff members at Addenbrooke's Hospital inappropriately accessed her medical records and explicit photos of her surgical procedures. Gemma Sabatino, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, fell from a bridge in November 2023 and underwent surgery during her two-month hospital stay.

The alarm was raised when a friend overheard a woman discussing Gemma's case in a hair salon, claiming to have seen some of her medical records and stating that screenshots of photographs taken during Gemma's surgery were being shared on WhatsApp.

Gemma, originally from Cherry Hinton, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 and moved to a hospice on March 12, 2025. She requested information from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Addenbrooke's, in November 2024 about five individuals she suspected had wrongfully accessed her medical files.

These individuals seemed to have no connection to Gemma's care but Gemma claims they knew her or knew of her – either as friends or as friends of friends. The trust confirmed to Gemma that three of the five staff members had 'inappropriately' accessed her files, according to an email seen by CambridgeshireLive. In the same email, the trust claimed two staff members had accessed her files for 'legitimate reasons'.

A spokesperson for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust addressed concerns over a patient's medical privacy breach, stating: "We have received a complaint from one patient relating to alleged inappropriate access to their medical information. Any allegations of this nature are taken very seriously and we are investigating in accordance with our Trust policies."

Distraught patient Gemma expressed her anguish, remarking, "I do not want to go out of this world feeling like this", after finding out that hospital staff may have pried into sensitive details of her life. She highlighted her sense of violation, especially since her cancer diagnosis details and private conversations with healthcare professionals were involved.

Gemma disclosed her dismay, adding, "I feel violated, humiliated, and like there is no respect." She continued by sharing how she felt secure within the hospital walls until she discovered the extensive intrusion into her personal medical history. She said: "I felt safe when I was in hospital. Information I didn't know about myself and things I hadn't seen has been viewed."

Gemma revealed her disgust at the thought of strangers observing images of her surgery and said the most painful aspect was the breach of confidentiality around her battle with cancer, emphasising its deeply personal nature. She said: "They have read notes from the calls between me and my breast nurse. We talk about things I don't feel comfortable talking about with anyone else."

She further detailed the invasion of her psychological space, "They have read notes from my psychologist – things I wouldn't even tell my family. They have printed my drugs list. It is just weird." Gemma said the loss of trust in the system that should have protected her privacy: "Anything they could look at, they looked at. I feel like I have given them so much trust to look after me. I have been really let down."

Gemma has taken action against the NHS trust after shocking revelations that her sensitive medical details had been compromised, lodging a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office. She received confirmation via email that staff members at the trust had committed what was "recorded as an infringement of the data protection laws".

The breach has left her distraught, stating: "It has done a lot of mental damage to me. I have had sleepless nights. I shouldn't be doing this – I should just be spending my last moments with my family."

She voiced her anguish over the betrayal by some within the hospital, contrasting the respect of her friends and family: "What really, really hurts is that I have got a lot of close friends and family members who work for the NHS and they didn't look at my files. These people were upset and they didn't have a clue what was happening to me, while people who wanted to gossip did."

Seeking a fresh start and a sense of comfort, Gemma explained that she now attends West Suffolk Hospital for cancer treatment due to feeling 'uncomfortable' at Addenbrooke's. Despite the switch, she continues to struggle with trust issues, especially involving her mental health support. 

"I get scared to tell people at Addenbrooke's how I am feeling," she admitted. "I have stopped talking with my mental health team now. There is no safe space to talk any more. I just think: give me a break. I do not want to go out of this world feeling like this. My pride and my dignity has been hurt."

Despite her ordeal, Gemma acknowledged the exceptional care she received from certain staff members at Addenbrooke's, but made it clear it was not them, nor the hospital as a whole, that caused her pain. Her experience underscores a deep violation of privacy during her most vulnerable times.

Angelina Sabatino, sister to the distressed Gemma, has publicly shared her family's turmoil: "We feel so deeply disturbed. My sister has been at her most vulnerable for the last 16 months. She is in the last stages of her life. It is the biggest violation of privacy in her weakest moments." Angelina is calling for a crackdown on data privacy negligence within medical facilities, arguing that harsher penalties, including potential jail time, might deter hospital staff from unlawfully peeking at patient records.

A representative from Cambridgeshire Police stated: "We are aware of allegations of potential data breaches at Addenbrooke's Hospital. We are working closely with the hospital and are awaiting the outcome of an internal investigation before deciding on next steps."