SN1 -v- East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: QB-2021-004437

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

16 June 2026

Before:

His Honour Judge Auerbach,
sitting as a Judge of the High Court

Between:

SN1
(a child proceeding by her mother and litigation friend, SN2)
(Claimant)

-v-

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
(Defendant)

Anonymity order

BEFORE His Honour Judge Auerbach (sitting as a Judge of the High Court) in the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL on 16 June 2026

UPON HEARING William Latimer-Sayer KC, Leading Counsel for the Claimant, and Andrew Kennedy KC, Counsel for the Defendant.

AND UPON CONSIDERING the protective nature of the approval jurisdiction pursuant to r.21.10 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998

AND UPON CONSIDERING the Article 8 rights of the Claimant and her Litigation Friend to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm that identification may cause to the Claimant and her Litigation Friend

AND UPON CONSIDERING the importance of open justice and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression

WHEREAS the Claimant has made a claim against the Defendant for personal injuries arising from mismanagement of her birth on 12 October 2018 in respect of which proceedings were issued in the High Court by the Claimant on 2 December 2021

AND WHEREAS Judgment was entered for damages to be assessed on 9 December 2021

AND WHEREAS the Claimant is a Child and brings the Claim by her mother and Litigation Friend

AND UPON THE COURT CONCLUDING that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant and her mother is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the Claimant and his parents

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The names of the Claimant and her mother are to be withheld in the statements of case, and in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:
    (i) The Claimant shall be referred to as SN1; and
    (ii) The Claimant’s mother and Litigation Friend shall be referred to as SN2.
  2. The Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by the Claimant’s solicitor’s address.
  3. No report, whether oral or in writing, or other communication in whatever form (including internet or social media) addressed to the public at large or any section of the public, of or concerning this claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    (i) The name or address of the Claimant;
    (ii) The name or address of the Claimant’s mother;
    (iii) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or her mother;
    (iv) Any image or likeness of the Claimant or her mother.
  4. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  5. 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 paragraphs 1 and 2 above.
    (ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(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 Claimant’s solicitor or deputy unless the court orders otherwise.
  6. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court copies of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 above by 14 July 2026.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 16 June 2026 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.”
  8. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or set aside this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor or deputy.
  9. This order shall lapse automatically on the death of the Claimant or her mother (whichever is the later), and its provisions shall have no effect from that time.
  10. Pursuant CPR 39.2(5) a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales (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.

Dated this 16th June 2026