Private hospital, caught in row 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 referral hospital for the Royal Family, high-profile politicians and celebrities, and therefore prides itself on the discretion of its staff members to maintain their privacy.
However, the Marylebone private clinic’s illustrious reputation is now discredited after it was claimed staff attempted to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical records.
It is claimed that at least one member of staff attempted to access Kate’s personal information after she underwent abdominal surgery at the London Clinic in January.
The royal, who is undergoing treatment for a form of cancer, was also treated at the center for an enlarged prostate at the same time Kate visited him earlier this year.
The London clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, opened in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital in January
Kate Middleton underwent surgery at the London Clinic in January. Staff allegedly attempted to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical records while she was there.
The service provided to patients at the private hospital – including meals brought in on silver trolleys – has been compared to that of a 5-star hotel.
Meals provided include fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfield Market.
The London Clinic was officially opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932. Since the 1980s, a number of facilities on the site have been officially opened by members of the royal family.
The King, 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 for what were described as “abdominal exams” in 2013, while Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.
In 1947, Kennedy, then a U.S. Congressman, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at 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 in 1939 – while leader of the opposition – for prostate surgery.
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 served as 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 leaves the London Clinic after visiting her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, June 15, 2013.
Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor underwent knee surgery at the London Clinic in January 1963. Above: Taylor leaving the hospital with a bandaged leg.
Lord Cameron, former Prime Minister and now Foreign Secretary, was born at the London Clinic in October 1966.
EastEnders actress Wendy Richard died at the clinic in 2009 from breast cancer, while Augusto Pinochet, Chile’s former dictator, was arrested there in 1998 for crimes against humanity.
The London Clinic was the brainchild of a group of Harley Street doctors who decided to plan a new nursing home using the highest medical standards of the time.
According to its website, the hospital was “founded on the principle of providing excellence in one location.”
The facility said it can treat 155 conditions, with hundreds of treatments, tests and scans available. It also operated as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.
The clinic has a premier cancer center that sees patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
It boasts of being able to provide “CyberKnife” radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients, “SpyGlass” technology for patients requiring endoscopy, and CAR-T immunotherapy for cancer patients.
In 2019, it inaugurated a center specializing in robotic surgery.
The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, carried out in June 2021, rated The London Clinic as ‘good’ overall.
According to the health watchdog, the hospital sees around 23,000 inpatients per year, plus 110,000 outpatients.
It is registered to provide surgical procedures as well as diagnostics and screenings, treatment of diseases, disorders or injuries, management of the supply of blood and blood 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 returning to bed at the London Clinic in 1939 after undergoing prostate surgery.
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 includes seven main operating rooms and three additional rooms, as well as six specialist departments for surgeries in urology, gynecology, thoracic surgery, orthopedics and spinal procedures.
In 2021, the clinic’s head chef, Paul O’Brien, was recognized for his support of patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
He leads a team that provides personalized meals to patients who also source ingredients from farms across the Home Counties.
A concierge can help patients make travel and accommodation arrangements while booking tours, theater shows and restaurants in the capital.
The service offered to patients at the private hospital – including meals brought in on silver trolleys – has been compared to that of a 5-star hotel.
The hospital’s executive chef runs a kitchen which serves fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfields Market.