# Questions about the Royal Prank call. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 13, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945 "2012-12-13T19:01:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/1 "2012-12-13T19:01:42Z")
I have read a lot in world newspapers about this. There are still many unanswered questions. What procedures did/does King Edward VII hospital have for calls from relatives of Royals? I heard some people say the reason the nurses assumed it was the Queen was the phoneline used was a confidential one. The DJs said they found it on the internet. Who is correct? What did the hospital authorities say to the nurses after the prank call? Has anyone seen or heard antything from or about the nurse who actually gave the information? Isn’t suicide considered a mortal sin in catholism? Does this have any bearing on the issue? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/2 "2012-12-13T19:07:04Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > …Isn’t suicide considered a mortal sin in catholism? Does this have any bearing on the issue? 😕 Why does that matter? I thought the nurse was Hindu. ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/3 "2012-12-13T19:16:26Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > 😕 Why does that matter? I thought the nurse was Hindu. She is reportedly ‘devoutly Catholic’. There seems to be a thing on the SDMB these days that if you ask a neutral question, all sorts of bad tidings on you for just asking. I am trying to ask a neutral question. It may have bearing , it may not. Just because I am asking, does not mean I am implying anything. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/4 "2012-12-13T19:46:15Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > I have read a lot in world newspapers about this. > There are still many unanswered questions. > What procedures did/does King Edward VII hospital have for calls from relatives of Royals? They don’t call. > [@blueslipper](#): > > I heard some people say the reason the nurses assumed it was the Queen was the phoneline used was a confidential one. The DJs said they found it on the internet. Who is correct? What is a “confidential” phoneline? > [@blueslipper](#): > > What did the hospital authorities say to the nurses after the prank call? Internal matter, I’d imagine. > [@blueslipper](#): > > Has anyone seen or heard antything from or about the nurse who actually gave the information? Internal matter, I’d imagine. > [@blueslipper](#): > > Isn’t suicide considered a mortal sin in catholism? Does this have any bearing on the issue? No. Look, despite all the huffing and puffing, no crime has occured. Some slightly private details were given out in error. The rest is a tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/5 "2012-12-13T20:03:05Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > They don’t call. > > What is a “confidential” phoneline? > > Internal matter, I’d imagine. > > Internal matter, I’d imagine. > > No. > > Look, despite all the huffing and puffing, no crime has occured. Some slightly private details were given out in error. The rest is a tragedy. They never call? Could we get a cite? Confidential line-one only known by royals. Giving out private medical details can be a crime ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/6 "2012-12-13T20:11:22Z")
Short version: most of your questions can’t be answered in a definitive way. > [@blueslipper](#): > > What procedures did/does King Edward VII hospital have for calls from relatives of Royals? If the procedures exist, they appear to be fucking lousy. > [@](#): > > I heard some people say the reason the nurses assumed it was the Queen was the phoneline used was a confidential one. The DJs said they found it on the internet. Who is correct? Who are the “some people?” > [@](#): > > What did the hospital authorities say to the nurses after the prank call? Nobody knows. The hospital says they were supportive rather than, say, vindictive. I don’t know how believable that is. > [@](#): > > Has anyone seen or heard antything from or about the nurse who actually gave the information? I don’t think anything has been disclosed. Saldanha’s name was not disclosed either until after she died. > [@blueslipper](#): > > Giving out private medical details can be a crime I’m not very familiar with those laws in the U.S., much less the U.K., but the information they gave was very general. The extent of it (from a transcript) was that she was sleeping, she’d been giving some fluids, and she hadn’t been sick recently. ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/7 "2012-12-13T20:13:26Z")
If they never phone, then either the nurses should know this or the hospital authorities should let the nurses know this. Then of course the nurses should be suspicious or at least surprised to get a call from ‘the Queen’. Neither nurse seemed suspicious or surprised by the call. What the hospital authorities said to the nurses after the prank call would be internal-yes. But it will come out sooner or later. I am just asking has anyone got any info yet? The nurse who actually gave the information - is not an internal matter. She is a person. Information about her and her reactions will come out sooner or later. I am just asking has anyone got any info yet? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/8 "2012-12-13T20:22:42Z")
Like I said - while I’ve mostly ignored this whole affair other than this thread - I think most of what you’re asking about has not been announced or isn’t known right now. There are some other threads about the prank call on this board. Have you read those? If this stuff isn’t in there, it’s probably just not public right now. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/9 "2012-12-13T20:31:12Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > The rest is a tragedy. My thoughts too. I have to there must have been other things going on in her life that she was disturbed by. This was a bit embarrassing but not suicide material! ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/10 "2012-12-13T20:32:52Z")
Link to full transcript of the call > **[How could they fall for this hoax? Hospital gives Kate's private details to...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2243315/Kate-Middleton-pregnant-Security-scare-Australian-radio-DJs-dupe-nurse-giving-medical-details.html)** > > Australian 2Day FM presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian say they impersonated the Queen and Prince Charles and found themselves talking to pregnant Kate’s private nurse. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/11 "2012-12-13T20:53:45Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > Isn’t suicide considered a mortal sin in catholism? Does this have any bearing on the issue? I wouldn’t say it has bearing on the issue, but the latest [catechism](http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm) does not describe suicide as a mortal sin. “Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide. We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.” ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/12 "2012-12-13T23:57:13Z")
In the unlikely event of Her Maj wishing to talk directly with the hospital her Private Secretary would place the call and establish who was on the line before connecting the Queen (according to an ex-Private Secretary interviewed in the \*Daily Telegraph \*the other day) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/13 "2012-12-14T02:32:09Z")
can’t cite this but when I first heard the story on this they said something about the nurse being recently assigned to answering the phone. when did nurses become receptionists? Is there a glut of health care workers in the UK? Sounds like there’s more to this than they’re saying. My hunch is that she was having other work-related problems and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/14 "2012-12-14T03:18:19Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > can’t cite this but when I first heard the story on this they said something about the nurse being recently assigned to answering the phone. when did nurses become receptionists? [The hospital doesn’t have overnight receptionists.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-lewis/royal-prank-nurse-suicide_b_2266447.html) So this it fell to a nurse to answer this predawn phone call, and for whatever reason it didn’t occur to her to be skeptical or do whatever kind of verification might be done by someone who regularly answers the phones. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/15 "2012-12-14T03:43:59Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > can’t cite this but when I first heard the story on this they said something about the nurse being recently assigned to answering the phone. when did nurses become receptionists? Is there a glut of health care workers in the UK? > > Sounds like there’s more to this than they’re saying. My hunch is that she was having other work-related problems and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It’s a small, private hospital, not part of the nhs, and it was 5:30am. Maybe not having a 24-hour receptionist was a cost-cutting measure, or maybe they just don’t get that many calls at 5am. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/16 "2012-12-14T03:58:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [The hospital doesn’t have overnight receptionists.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-lewis/royal-prank-nurse-suicide_b_2266447.html) So this it fell to a nurse to answer this predawn phone call, and for whatever reason it didn’t occur to her to be skeptical or do whatever kind of verification might be done by someone who regularly answers the phones. That explanation doesn’t sound logical. This was a transferred call. They assigned a nurse to answer the phone which means it wasn’t answered at a nursing station. It’s not a cost saving venture to do this. The location of the receptionist is not likely to be in the medical area of the hospital so she is basically unavailable as a nurse during this function. This was a medically educated professional put in the place of a “trained” telephone operator. A trained telephone operator would consist of anyone with a pulse who can read a paragraph of instructions. She has to be aware of basic patient privacy rights. Now it’s possible the main phones are forwarded into a nursing station but the call would not likely be transferred. What it comes down to is that she was pranked by people who didn’t expect to be taken seriously. In other words, it wasn’t even a real prank. For her not to get this is astounding. Maybe she couldn’t hear the obviously bad attempt at an accent since she’s from another country but I certainly heard it and I’m not British. I would agree with the article that she was read the riot act and that her judgement skills were put into question. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/17 "2012-12-14T04:28:46Z")
Btw, the link earlier put up as a full transcript of the call included hardly any of the call at all. Here’s a transcript: [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mobileweb/2012/12/07/royal-prank-call-transcript\_n\_2257651.html](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mobileweb/2012/12/07/royal-prank-call-transcript_n_2257651.html) I think it sounds more like they had the phone number of the ward rather than the general reception number. Or perhaps their general reception number call was re-routed to another desk. It doesn’t mean nurses would have been sitting at a receptionist’s desk in the main lobby. Funnily enough, if this had happened at an nhs hospital then there definitely would have been a receptionist on even at that time and odds are she’d have been a little more savvy about hoaxers. But I bet someone, somewhere, soon, will use this as an indictment of the nhs. ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/18 "2012-12-14T05:54:39Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Funnily enough, if this had happened at an nhs hospital then there definitely would have been a receptionist on even at that time I’m disputing that. From my experience (processing timesheets and wages for all grades of hospital staff), each ward in an NHS hospital will have one, sometimes two, receptionists. They work normal office hours. An individual ward will not have a receptionist on duty outside office hours. There may be a nightshift at the general hospital switchboard to answer calls to the main number, but if the phone rings in an NHS ward outside office hours it will be down to whoever is working in the ward to answer it. I’m pretty sure that in the NHS hospital in which I worked, individual ward phone numbers were listed in the telephone directory (it was 12/13 years ago, so I could be mistaken). If you grab a phonebook at 3am, look up Ward 36 at Fulchester Royal Infirmary, and dial the direct number, the call - if it is answered - will likely be answered by a (possibly grumpy) nurse. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/19 "2012-12-14T08:21:06Z")
> [@](#): > > The dead woman’s family has been given typed copies of the three handwritten notes by the police and has read the contents, the Guardian has been told. > > One note deals with the hoax call by the DJs from 2Day FM, another details her requests for her funeral, and the third addresses her employers, the hospital, and contains criticism of staff there, the Guardian understands from two separate sources. > **[Jacintha Saldanha suicide note criticised hospital staff](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/13/jacintha-saldanha-suicide-notes)** > > Inquest hears that nurse who died after Duchess of Cambridge hoax call left three letters before apparently taking her own life ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945/20 "2012-12-14T08:24:04Z")
> [@JessMagic](#): > > I’m disputing that. From my experience (processing timesheets and wages for all grades of hospital staff), each ward in an NHS hospital will have one, sometimes two, receptionists. They work normal office hours. \*\* An individual ward will not have a receptionist on duty outside office hours.\*\* There may be a nightshift at the general hospital switchboard to answer calls to the main number, but if the phone rings in an NHS ward outside office hours it will be down to whoever is working in the ward to answer it. > > I’m pretty sure that in the NHS hospital in which I worked, individual ward phone numbers were listed in the telephone directory (it was 12/13 years ago, so I could be mistaken). If you grab a phonebook at 3am, look up Ward 36 at Fulchester Royal Infirmary, and dial the direct number, the call - if it is answered - will likely be answered by a (possibly grumpy) nurse. No ward anywhere has a receptionist at any hours - the hospital has a reception area for people physically arriving, and a centralised telephony system which may redirect calls to a ward. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-royal-prank-call/643945.md?page=2)