View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

IPSO: Telegraph breached code with report that Michael Gove could not get X-Ray, but correction sufficient

By PA Mediapoint

A complaint that a Daily Telegraph story headlined "Gove could not get X-ray for broken foot" was inaccurate has been upheld by Ipso, the Independent Press Standards organisation.

But it held that as the newspaper published a correction correcting the error as soon as it was aware of it, and had amended the online version of the article and appended a note to it, no further action was necessary.

Barnaby Large had complained about the story, published on 23 July, which reported that Michael Gove's wife, journalist Sarah Vine, had expressed concern that her husband was unable to receive treatment for a possible broken foot because "parts of the NHS shut down on the weekends".

It stated Gove had gone to a minor Injuries unit, but was unable to get an X-ray because "NHS radiology departments are closed on Sundays".

Large said NHS radiology departments in many hospitals were open 24 hours a day for emergencies – had Gove visited an Accident and Emergency clinic, rather than a minor injuries unit, he would have been able to see a doctor and might well have been able to have an X-ray.

The newspaper, Large said, had given a significantly misleading impression of the provision of NHS services in order to further a political agenda, adding that the correction was not given sufficient prominence.

The newspaper said that as soon as it was made aware of the error, it corrected the inaccuracy in the online article, appended a footnote and published a correction in print which clearly addressed the inaccuracy.

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

But it considered that most readers would not have been misled by the article: they would have been aware that services at large general hospitals were often slower at the weekend, and that patients going to Accident and Emergency clinics were able to access radiology departments on Sundays.

Ipso's complaints committee said it was accepted that NHS radiology departments in many hospitals were open seven days a week for emergencies. The article, however, had given the significantly misleading impression that patients could not access radiology services in NHS hospitals on Sundays. This represented a failure to take care over the accuracy of the article in breach of Clause 1 (i) of the Editors' Code of Practice, and a correction was required in order to avoid a breach of Clause 1 (ii).

When alerted to the inaccuracy, the newspaper had published a correction in its established Corrections and Clarifications column on page two – six pages further forward than the original article.

The correction made clear that NHS radiology departments were open seven days a week in many hospitals.

The newspaper had also amended the online article and appended the correction to it.

The prompt action taken by the newspaper was sufficient to meet the requirement of Clause 1 (ii).

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network