London Clinic caught in Kate Middleton medical records row has its own concierge, offers meat from Smithfields market and fish from Cornish boats and counts Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Liz Taylor and JFK among its famous patients
The private hospital that has fallen out over Kate Middleton’s medical records offers its own concierge, meat from Smithfields market and fish from Cornish boats, while counting Prince Philip, Liz Taylor and John F Kennedy as former patients.
The London Clinic is the hospital of choice for the Royal Family, major politicians and celebrities, and therefore prides itself on the discretion of its staff to ensure their privacy.
However, the Marylebone private clinic’s illustrious reputation has now been discredited after it was claimed that staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical records.
It is claimed that at least one employee tried to access Kate’s personal details after she underwent abdominal surgery at the London Clinic in January.
The king, who is undergoing treatment for a form of cancer, was also treated for an enlarged prostate at the center at the same time Kate visited earlier this year.
The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after abdominal surgery, first opened in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital in January
Kate Middleton underwent surgery at the London Clinic in January. It is claimed that staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’s personal medical records while she was there
The service offered to patients at the private hospital – including meals delivered on silver trolleys – has been compared to that of a five-star hotel
Meals on offer include fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfield market
The London Clinic was officially opened in 1932 by the then Duke and Duchess of York. Since the 1980s, a number of facilities at the site have been officially opened by members of the Royal Family.
The King, as then Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010.
Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic in 2013 for what was described as an ‘abdominal examination’, while Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.
In 1947, Kennedy, then a US congressman, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease in the clinic.
Taylor underwent knee surgery there in January 1963 after falling on a film set.
Other former patients include former Labor Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted for surgery on his prostate in 1939 – when he was Leader of the Opposition.
Another former prime minister, the Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gallbladder removed at the London Clinic in 1953 when he was Foreign Secretary.
Current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, was born there in 1966.
The London Clinic has previously treated Prince Philip. The late Duke of Edinburgh is pictured above leaving the private hospital in 2013
Queen Elizabeth II is pictured leaving the London Clinic after visiting her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on June 15, 2013
Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor underwent knee surgery at The London Clinic in January 1963. Above: Taylor left the hospital with her leg bandaged
Lord Cameron, former Prime Minister and now Foreign Secretary, was born at the London Clinic in October 1966
EastEnders actress Wendy Richard died in the clinic in 2009 after breast cancer, while Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested there in 1998 for crimes against humanity.
The London Clinic was the brainchild of a group of Harley Street doctors who wanted to plan a new nursing home to the highest medical standards of the time.
According to its website, the hospital was “founded on the principles of delivering excellence in one place.”
The facility said it could treat 155 conditions, with hundreds of treatments, tests and scans available. It also acted as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.
The clinic has a leading cancer center where patients are received for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
The company boasts that it can provide ‘CyberKnife’ radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients, ‘SpyGlass’ technology for patients requiring endoscopy and CAR-T immunotherapy for cancer patients.
In 2019, it unveiled a specialized center for robotic surgery.
The last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, carried out in June 2021, rated The London Clinic as ‘good’ overall.
According to the health watchdog, the hospital has around 23,000 inpatients a year, with a further 110,000 outpatients.
It is registered to provide surgery, diagnostics and screening, treatment of diseases, conditions or injuries, management of the blood supply and blood derived products.
Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed
Future Labor Prime Minister Clement Attlee – then Leader of the Opposition – is seen in bed at the London Clinic in 1939, after undergoing surgery on his prostate
US President John F Kennedy, pictured here with the Queen at a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in 1961, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the London Clinic in 1947.
The building at 20 Devonshire Place has seven main operating theaters and three additional theatres, as well as six specialist departments for urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopedics and spine procedures.
In 2021, the clinic’s head chef, Paul O’Brien, received an award for supporting patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
He leads a team that provides tailor-made meals for patients, also sourcing ingredients from Home Counties farms.
A concierge can help patients arrange travel and accommodation, as well as book tours, theater shows and restaurants in the capital.
The service offered to patients at the private hospital – including meals brought on silver trolleys – has been likened to that of a five-star hotel.
The hospital’s head chef runs a kitchen serving fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfields Market.