Kate Middleton's Prank Nurse Jacintha Saldanha: Family Calls for "Full Facts" as Hospital Holds Memorial

Through their new unofficial representative, a Labour MP, the late worker's loved ones seek more answers in the tragic death while masses of remembrance are set up around England

By Gina Serpe Dec 14, 2012 3:51 PMTags
Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of CambridgeArthur Edwards - Pool/Getty Images

A week after Kate Middleton's pranked nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, was tragically found hanged, the hospital at which she worked held a private memorial for their late colleague.

"King Edward VII's is a small hospital, with a tight-knit team," the facility's chief executive, John Lofthouse, said in a statement. "Everybody knew Jacintha, and we were all left deeply shocked by her tragic death following the hoax telephone call.

"This service was a chance for everyone here to pay their respects and remember a dead colleague."

Meanwhile, though the family of the 46-year-old mother of two met with hospital officials earlier this week, with the facility spokesman saying they answered all questions in full and "are continuing to support the family in a number of ways," there seem to remain some question marks around the circumstances of the tragedy.

At an inquest hearing yesterday, it was revealed that Saldanha left three notes before her death, with the British media widely reporting that one of them addressed her employers and was critical of fellow hospital staff.

The family has recently taken to being represented in the press by Labour MP Keith Vaz, who today called for a release of the "full facts" of what occurred.

"You want to know all the facts. If you lost someone, if it was you or I, you'd want to know everything," he told the Today show.

As for Saldanha, this morning's hospital tribute will be followed later today by a memorial mass set to take place in Bristol, where she previously lived, followed by another service held Saturday at London's Westminster Cathedral.

A spokesman said the mass is being held "for the repose of the soul of Jacintha and her grieving family."