Clinic Vows To ‘Take Action' Over Kate Data Breach Claim

The chief of the hospital at the centre of claims that staff attempted to access the Princess of Wales's private medical records has vowed that "all appropriate steps will be taken".

- SAM HALL JORDAN REYNOLDS

Up to three staff are being investigated at the private London Clinic in Marylebone for attempting to view Kate’s files while she was a patient there in January for 13 days following her abdominal surgery. Al Russell, chief executive of the London Clinic, said: “There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.”

The UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), is looking into the alleged royal data breach and is in the process of assessing the information. Hospital staff could be charged with a criminal offence by the data protection watchdog and face an unlimited fine if they are found to have unlawfully accessed her records.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said it was “pretty severe and serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don’t have permission to”. She also said police had “been asked to look at” whether staff at the clinic attempted to access the princess’s private medical records.

Ms Caulfield was speaking after the clinic launched an investigation into the damaging claims.