Id still be asking for a call back number or passing the phone to a junior officer

I would, I would also comment on the verbatim repetition of the call on this thread. That needs deleting. ASAP, there's no need to keep repeating it, such repetition probably played a part in the woman's torment.

Just guessing here, the nurse who killed herself put the call through to the floor nurses, and probably said that it was the Queen as she did so. The floor nurse would have then have no reason to doubt who was calling and would not be breaking any confidentiality issues provided the patient had already consented to information being given out to the Queen.

This puts the "blame" back on the nurse on reception. Though why the hospital did not have security manning the switchboard is a puzzle. Maybe they had gone for a pee??? The hospital needs better security that's obvious.

I think that the staff at this hospital also sign the Official Secrets Act in addition to professional and contractual obligations to confidentiality. I've no idea what this means in practice but it would make me more worried about the outcome

". . . who was married with two children"

Perhaps that inappropriately disclosed personal information was gathered by a large crowd of reporters and cameramen crowding around her house.

I have no idea but it the whole thing seems insane.

+1

I just heard this on the news, that is awefull. The Ausies are in trouble now!

They'll just chuck another on the barbie

Death penalty could be enforced for them, for treason.

I thought that had been done when the story originally broke. This is a new story.

I think it would be the other way around. The person answering the phone is completely taken by surprise. Has no time to think "hang on, surely an aide would be enquiring or at least saying put me through to...I have HM on the line..."

Then I'd expect the second one to say "you're 'avin' a larf" or some such and then they start questioning the reality.

The second one is the one hearing the silly stuff about corgis, and needing a lift "down there" and the other stuff.

Of course, one would expect there to be have been some protocol in place to avoid this.

My thoughts exactly. Can you imagine the poor woman thinking in a split second "holy crap it's the queen, is it the queen???? what if it is and I don't put her through, I could get fired, this the THE QUEEN" of course there's people that would have composed themselves and tried to do some due dilligence - but if you are taken off guard - then it's understandable.

As for the dj's - ok so yes I've read the station has been in trouble for silly pranks (and some outright disgusting ones) in the past - but they can NOT have anticipated what would happen as a result of this.

All that being said, due to what's transpired, the only decent thing they can do is resign.

Unfortunately the Blair Govt had to get rid of the Death Penalty for Treason in 1998 as a precursor for having a lovely tea party at the UK signing of the European Convention of Human Rights in 1999.

Well this poor nurse has already has paid the treason penalty for leaking confidential information. I think the presenters might be next.

IMO Not a word they would have been taught or know a great deal about in Australia

I didn't mean any comparison between the two nurses. My comment was referring to the confidentiality part and not the being taken in by the callers.