The nurse found dead after answering a hoax call for the Duchess of Cambridge during her first pregnancy “should have been given more support”, her boss told an inquest today.
Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found hanging in nursing accommodation on December 7, 2012, three days after staff were tricked into telling two Australian radio DJs about Kate’s stay at London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital, where she was being treated for acute morning sickness.
At an inquest into her death today, John Lofthouse, chief executive of the hospital at the time of the prank call, admitted Ms Saldanha should have had more support.
Mr Lofthouse said the nurse should have followed “protocol”, by taking a message and then putting the phone down. But he said no disciplinary action was taken.
He said the response from the hospital was “not over the top” because the nurse appeared to be “robust”. He said: “My view... was they were receiving an appropriate level of care and support” but he added that, in hindsight, “more support should have been given”.
Ms Saldanha’s husband Benedict Barboza and two children Lisha, 15, and Junal, 18, were at the Royal Courts of Justice for the hearing, feet away from Mel Greig, one of the DJs who made the prank call.
The inquest continues.
