The chairman of King Edward VII’s Hospital, where Kate Middleton was being treated for severe morning sickness earlier this week, has penned a letter to the Australian radio station for its prank call that possibly led to the death of a nurse.
“I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms about the hoax call made from your radio station, 2DayFM, to this hospital last Tuesday,” Lord Glenarthur wrote in a letter addressed to Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of the station’s parent company Southern Cross Austereo.
The letter was released to media on Saturday morning, some 24 hours after Jacintha Saldanha’s body was found around the corner from the hospital. Scotland Yard is treating the death as a possible suicide.
The rest of the letter is as follows:
King Edward VII’s Hospital cares for sick people, and it was extremely foolish of your presenters even to consider trying to lie their way through to one of our patients, let alone actually make the call.
Then to discover that, not only had this happened, but that the call had been pre-recorded and the decision to transmit approved by your station’s management, was truly appalling.
The immediate consequence of these premeditated and ill-considered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients.
The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words.
I appreciate that you cannot undo the damage which has been done but I would urge you to take steps to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated.
Following news of Middleton’s pregnancy and admittance to the hospital, 2DayFM’s Mel Greig and Michael Christina prank called the hospital as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles looking for an update on the Duchess’s condition.
The DJs have since been suspended and have reportedly been offered counseling in the wake of the nurse’s death.
“This is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen and we’re deeply saddened by it,” Southern Cross Austereo’s CEO Rhys Holleran said at a news conference on Saturday.
“I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it’s fair to say they’re completely shattered. These people aren’t machines, they’re human beings. We’re all affected by this.”
The Sydney-based station also pulled all advertising from its airwaves, effective immediately.
Back at St. James’s Palace, the Duke and Duchess expressed their condolences through a spokesperson following Friday’s tragic news.
“The Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time,” according to the spokesperson.
What do you think of the hospital’s letter to the Australian radio station? Weigh in below.
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