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Savile: Hospital reports findings

NHS hospitals across the UK - including three in the North East - published the findings of their investigations into the disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile.

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Newcastle MP calls for further investigations into Savile

A Newcastle MP has called for further inquiries into the behaviour of the disgraced presenter Jimmy Savile.

A report into Savile's connections with hospitals in Newcastle concluded he had visited on a handful of occasions from the 1980s, with visits appearing to coincide with the Great North Run.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust report concluded that 'nothing untoward occurred and there was continual supervision'.

The Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah asked the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt whether an 'overarching independent inquiry' into Savile was needed. Mr Hunt said such an inquiry was already taking place but he hoped that any further victims of Savile's abuse would be encouraged to come forward.

Watch their exchange here:

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Savile: Whitby Hospital nurse allegation

A nurse at Whitby Hospital claims Jimmy Savile inappropriately touched her during a visit in the 1960s. The claim has been investigated by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, one of 28 Trusts publishing the findings of Savile investigations.

The investigation began after a former member of staff at the Whitby Memorial Hospital, which was demolished in the 1970s, made a complaint. Savile is alleged to have 'put his arms around her and touched her inappropriately', though not in a sexual way, and made an inappropriate comment.

She claimed Savile visited the hospital occasionally, sometimes alone and sometimes with a driver and was very 'touchy feely' and used to 'paw you'. She didn't make a complaint at the time but said she told him not to behave inappropriately.

It is important the NHS plays its part in investigating allegations relating to Jimmy Savile and we took our duty to do this seriously. Our investigation centred on a single allegation at Whitby Hospital, which was an isolated incident that does not appear to have caused long term harm to the individual concerned. Our investigation also highlighted that, 50 years ago, society was very different and we now have much greater awareness of the dangers to vulnerable people, with systems and processes in place to better protect them."

– Mike Proctor, Deputy Chief Executive, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Read more on the Savile investigations here.

Savile: Nothing untoward at Newcastle Hospitals

Jimmy Savile visited the children's wards of the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle General Hospital in the 1980s and 1990s. An investigation by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals has found nothing untoward happened during the visits.

Arising out of an exhaustive investigation, these presentations appeared to coincide with the Great North Run. Nothing untoward occured and there was continual supervision."

– Sir Leonard Fenwick, Chief Executive, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals
  • Read more on the Savile investigations here.

Savile: No connection with Durham's Dryburn Hospital

28 NHS Trusts have published their findings after investigations into links with Jimmy Savile.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust carried out an investigation after suggestions there was a possible link between Savile and Dryburn Hospital. It then widened the investigation to include a visit by Savile to the children's ward at Shotley Bridge Hospital in 1981.

The investigation has found no evidence of any connection between Jimmy Savile and Dryburn Hospital and no evidence of any untoward incidents taking place during the visit to Shotley Bridge Hospital. A small number of potential improvements in our procedures have been identified and are being actioned. The Trust is not, however, complacent in any regard and will seek to learn any lessons from the reports concerning other hospitals, in line with our duty to safeguard patients from harm."

– County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Read more on the Savile investigations here.

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