XBC -v- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim Number: KB-2023-0003493

In the Royal Courts of Justice
King’s Bench Division

22 October 2025

Before:

His Honour Judge Shanks

Between:

XBC (a protected party proceeding by Litigation Friend YBC)

– v –

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Anonymity Order

BEFORE His Honour Judge Shanks (sitting as a Judge of the High Court) at The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London on 22 October 2025


UPON HEARING Leading Counsel for the Claimant


AND UPON the application notice dated 14 October 2025


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


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


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


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, the Litigation Friend and the Claimant’s Father are to be withheld in the statements of case, in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:
    (i) The Claimant shall be referred to as XBC;
    (ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as YBC;
    (iii) The Claimant’s Father shall be referred to as ZBC
  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:
    (a) The name or address of the Claimant;
    (b) The name or address of the Litigation Friend and Claimant’s Father;
    (c) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or Litigation Friend or Claimant’s Father;
    (d) Any image or likeness of the Claimant or Litigation Friend or Claimant’s Father.
  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 subparagraphs 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, trustee 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 paragraph 1 and 2 above by 12 November 2025.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 22nd October 2025 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, trustee or deputy.
  9. This order shall lapse automatically on the death of the Claimant 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).