Hospitals involved in Savile abuse claims

Two hospitals in Leeds and Buckinghamshire say they are shocked at suggestions Sir Jimmy Savile preyed on children during visits to wards.

Claims have emerged that Savile groped young patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he worked as a volunteer fundraiser, while one woman has claimed she saw him molest a brain-damaged hospital patient at Leeds General Hospital.

Nurses at Stoke Mandeville are understood to have dreaded Savile's visits because of his behaviour, and would tell children to stay in bed and pretend to be asleep when he came round.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals have confirmed it has been contacted by two people about incidents going back to the 1970s.

The hospitals urged anyone with any concerns to contact police.