Sinister update after Crows great Tony Modra was critically injured in a truck crash – as SA Health launch a ninth major investigation

A ninth health worker is under investigation over alleged unauthorised access of AFL great Tony Modra’s medical records after he was critically injured in a truck crash.

SA Health confirmed another staff member had been identified by an audit into access of the Adelaide Crows legend’s patient file since his accident in June.

Modra, 57, was in hospital for 19 days after a falling tree branch smashed through his truck’s windscreen at Back Valley, near Victor Harbor, during a violent storm.

He underwent extensive facial surgery before he was finally allowed home to continue his recovery. 

Three employees are already under investigation and five more are also being assessed over whether their access to Modra’s records was appropriate. 

‘One additional SA Health staff member is under investigation for potential inappropriate access of a patient record, following an audit that identified eight staff members who remain under investigation,’ SA Health said in a statement.

Modra is recovering from severe injuries suffered when a falling tree branch struck the vehicle he was driving and smashed through the windscreen

Tony Modra is recovering after undergoing facial surgery following his near-fatal truck crash

‘In total, nine staff members are part of the current investigation, which is ongoing.’ 

SA Health has apologised to the Modra family for any distress caused by the alleged privacy breach.

The former Crows superstar shared an upbeat recovery update with supporters last month, thanking emergency workers and hospital staff who saved his life.

‘SA Ambulance Service, South Coast District Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre,’ he wrote alongside a family photograph.

‘Saved my life. Put me back together with a few titanium plates. Got me home.’

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the snooping allegations were ‘disappointing’.

‘More than 50,000 people work at SA Health and the vast majority work hard every day and do the right thing,’ he said.

‘It is unfortunate that some individuals have gone beyond their remit. 

A ninth health worker is under investigation over alleged unauthorised access of AFL great Tony Modra’s medical records

‘We have seen this happen before in other high-profile incidents and people get caught, they get caught because we have the systems in place to be able to detect this kind of activity.

‘My message to people who think about doing the wrong thing in SA Health is, just don’t take the risk, you are going to get caught and it is not worth it.’

SA Health said patient privacy remained a priority and warned employees found to have improperly accessed records could lose their jobs.

‘Protecting patients and their private clinical information is a matter we take extremely seriously,’ the department said in a statement.

‘We have robust policies and processes in place to ensure that staff are accessing appropriate information and we conduct audits to ensure our policies are complied with.

‘Any staff member who has accessed information inappropriately may be subject to disciplinary processes, which may include termination of their employment.’

The alleged breaches are the latest in a series of high-profile privacy investigations involving SA Health.

In 2016, 13 hospital staff were sanctioned for improperly accessing the medical records of Cy Walsh, the son of late Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh. 

The alleged privacy breaches remain under investigation as SA Health continues auditing access to Modra’s records

More recently, an investigation found multiple staff had inappropriately accessed the medical records of Charlie Stevens, the late son of South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

According to News Corp, more than 100 SA Health staff have faced disciplinary action for unauthorised access to patient records since July 2018, with at least seven employees dismissed.