SKV and SKM -v- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2025-MAN-000140

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Manchester District Registry

11 August 2025

Before:

District Judge Haisley,
sitting in the High Court of Justice

Between:

(1) SKV
(2) SKM

-v-

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

Anonymity order

BEFORE District Judge Haisley sitting in the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, Manchester District Registry on 11 August 2025

WARNING: you must comply with the terms imposed upon you by this Order: otherwise, your case is liable to be struck out or some other sanction imposed. If you cannot comply you are expected to make a formal application to the Court before any deadline imposed upon you expires.

AND UPON considering without a hearing the Claimants’ application dated the 16th day of April 2025, the witness statement of Trevor Ward of the same date and a letter from the Claimants’ solicitors dated 11/6/25 which confirms that the Defendant is aware of the application and have confirmed their neutrality in relation to the same

AND UPON
(1) Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Claimants and their children to respect for private and family life, and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
(2) Notwithstanding the principle of open justice, it appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimants is appropriate in order to protect the interests of the Claimants and their children and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure but allowing the continuance of the secure and the proper administration of justice;- and
(3) The Defendant indicating its neutrality to the making of the order and there being no representations from the press or any other interested party.
(4) The decision of the Court of Appeal in PMC v A Local Health Board [2025] EWCA Civ 176 reaffirming that the leading authority remains JX MX [2015] EWCA Civ 96.

AND PURSUANT to Section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4)

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:
(1) ‘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.
(2) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any publication (as defined in subparagraph (1) above) from the date of this Order.

WITHOUT A HEARING IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identity of the Claimants and each of them as a party to these proceedings is confidential 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 the Claimants in these proceedings. The 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 “SKV ”.
    (ii) The Second Claimant shall be referred to as “SKM”
    (iii) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may 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 5.4C4 and 5.4D:
    (i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, confidential annexes to documents that are filed, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, confidential annexes to documents that are filed ,judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(i) to (iii) above.
    (ii) If a person who is not a party 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 at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimants solicitor.
  5. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court an electronic (PDF) bundle of the statements of case that has been anonymised in accordance with paragraph 3 above within 21 days of the date of this Order, and re-field 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 11/8/25 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 7 days’ notice to the Claimants’ solicitor.
  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 11th day of August 2025