A nurse will front court accused of accessing and downloading medical records of patients.

Police received a report on Wednesday that the data had been downloaded by a NSW Health employee without authorisation.

Investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Frenchs Forest, North Sydney, the following night and seized “several electronic devices”.

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It will be alleged the devices contained “details of patients” and a 59-year-old man was arrested.

The employee of the Northern Sydney Local Health District was later charged with accessing restricted data held on a computer.

He was granted conditional bail and is expected to appear before Manly Local Court on August 19.

NSW Police’s Cybercrime Squad Commander,  Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, said detectives “acted swiftly to seize the devices and recover the data”.

A male nurse will front court accused of accessing and downloading patient records in North Sydney. Credit: Pascal Bachelet/Getty Images

“Initial inquiries indicate the data — while (allegedly) being accessed illegally — appears to have been contained to the individual,” Craft said.

“Incidents such as this alleged access represent a clear breach of professional and community trust, and it will be treated with the utmost seriousness.”

Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information has been urged to contact police.