QXG and RXG -v- Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)
Claim Number: QB-2022-001343
In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
5 April 2024
Before:
Master Thornett
Between:
(1) QXG (A child, by his mother & litigation friend, RXG)
(2) RXG
-v-
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Anonymity Order
UPON the Claimants’ application
AND UPON
(1) Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Claimants to respect for private and family life and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression
(2) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the First Claimant and the Second Claimant, who is also the Litigation Friend, is necessary in order to the interests of the Claimants and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure
(3) The Defendants indicating their neutrality to the making of the order and there being no representations from the press or other interested party.
AND PURSUANT to s.6 of the Human Rights Act 1998; s.11 Contempt of Court Act 1981; and CPR Rule 5.4A to 5.4D and CPR Rule 39.2(4)
WHEREAS:
1. For the purposes of this order:
(i) “Publication” includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.
(ii) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (i) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.
2. For the avoidance of doubt, set out below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of communications and records which do not constitute publication within the meaning of this order (providing always that proper steps are taken to protect the confidentiality of information from being made public). In this list references to ‘the anonymised party’ include that party’s appointed representatives and advisers, such as solicitor, Litigation Friend, attorney, trustee and deputy.
(i) Communications between the Court Funds Office and the anonymised party in relation to the payment of money into the Court Funds Office for the benefit of the anonymised party or the investment or treatment of payment out of such money.
(ii) Communications between the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of such money.
(iii) Records kept by the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of the First Claimant’s money.
(iv) Retention by all parties to the claim, their representatives, and their advisers of their unredacted files for the purposes of their continuing functions and obligations in relation to the proceedings.
(v) Communications between the Defendant(s), their insurers, or their successors in title and their legal and professional advisers, reinsurers, HM Revenue and Customs (or its successor), the Compensation Recovery Unit or any other person required by law.
(vi) Communications between the anonymised party’s representatives and advisers in managing that party’s affairs.
(vii) Communications for the purpose of obtaining medical care, advice or treatment for the anonymised party.
IT IS ORDERED BY CONSENT THAT:
(1) The identity of the Claimants as parties to these proceedings is protected and shall not be published.
(2) Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4) there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of the Claimants or other immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of QXG and RXG as the Claimants in these proceedings. The First and Second Claimants shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this Order.
(3) In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
(i) The First Claimant shall be referred to as “ QXG ”.
(ii) The Second Claimant, who is also the Mother and Litigation Friend, shall be referred to as “ RXG ”.
(iii) Any other details liable to lead to the identification of the Claimants (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
(4) Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
(i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraph 3(i) to (iii) above.
(ii) If a person who is not a person to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on a least 7 days’ notice to the Claimants’ solicitor, trustee or deputy.
(5) The Claimants’ solicitor shall file with he Court and electronic (PDF) bundle of the statements of case that has been anonymised in accordance with paragraph 3 above by XX 23 and refiled in the event that any statement of case is amended, within 21 days of such amendment being approved.
(6) The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on the 5th April 2024 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
(7) Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on notice to the Claimants’ solicitor, trustee or deputy, and that 7 days’ prior notice of the intention to make such an application is given.
(8) Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this Order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk.
(9) The costs of obtaining this order be costs in the case.
DATED this 5th day of April 2024