Jimmy Savile abuse: Today's key findings

Savile was an "opportunistic" abuser of patients, hospital staff and others. Credit: PA

Two reports into abuse by Jimmy Savile in NHS institutions were released today.

The first describes findings of an investigation into Savile's behaviour and abuse toward patients and staff at Stoke Mandeville hospital, which he was closely associated with for several decades.

The second looked at the lessons learned from the Savile scandal that could be applied to the NHS today - identifying existing weaknesses that could potentially allow similar abuses to take place in future.

Savile's abuses at Stoke Mandeville hospital

The initial report for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust found that:

  • Between 1968 and 1992 Savile sexually abused 60 individuals connected with Stoke Mandeville Hospital - including patients, staff, visitors, volunteers, charity fundraisers

  • The victims ranged in age from eight to 40, with almost half under 16

  • Around one-third of the attacks were against patients, and just over 90% were female

The abuse ranged from inappropriate touching to rape, and Savile was described as an "opportunistic predator who could on occasions show a high degreeof premeditation when planning attacks on his victims.

The report indicates that, while Savile's nature as a "sex pest" was, according to victims, an "open secret", at no point were senior management made aware of his "sexual offending" or "poor moral behaviour".

Instead, he was feted by the organisation's bosses and rose from voluntary porter in 1969 to lead fundraiser and project manager for a new spinal injuries centre in 1980, a role for which he was backed by new prime minister Margaret Thatcher

The report finds that Savile used this enhanced position to access a "new cohort of victims... in the guise of young charity fundraisers to the hospital".

In conculsion, it noted that all NHS services should be "alert to predatory sexual offenders like Savile who can be placed in a position of trust andauthority.

The lessons learned from Savile's abuse in hospitals

The seocnd report was authored at the request of the Health Secretary. Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

The second report, commissioned by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, looked at how Savile was able to abuse victims at 41 different NHS hospitals.

It found that despite his "exceptional" string of abuses, there are "many elements of the Savile story that could be repeated in future".

After her inquiries, the report's author Kate Lampard made 14 recommendations intended to reduce the risk of abuse in NHS institutions, broadly including:

  • Tougher security and access arrangements; including more rigorous checks of famous visitors

  • More robust management of and rigorous checks on volunteers

  • Better and more regular training of staff - both NHS and agency - on safeguarding patients from potential abuse

  • Protection of younger patients from inappopriate use of the internet and social media

  • Improving complaints procedures and encouraging patients and staff to come forward with concerns