Stoke Mandeville staff 'aware of Jimmy Savile abuse'

Senior staff at Stoke Mandeville Hospital were told of the abuse of young patients at the hands of Jimmy Savile, a lawyer representing many of the late entertainer's victims has said.

The findings of investigations into Savile's activities in the NHS are to be made public later today at a press conference in London.

Recommendations on lessons learnt will also be outlined.

Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, is believed to have abused hundreds of children.

As well as a bedroom at Stoke Mandeville near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, he had an office and living quarters at high-security Broadmoor - where he sexually abused at least five individuals - and widespread access to Leeds General Infirmary, where he was known to frequent the mortuary.

Ahead of the release of the findings later this morning, Liz Dux, who represents 44 of Savile's victims, said: "We have clear evidence from Savile victims at Stoke Mandeville that senior staff knew about the abuse.

"Some people knew and decided to ignore it. Frankly, it beggars belief.

"We expect the report to once again outline horrendous levels of abuse. And we believe it will also have uncovered many missed opportunities to stop the abuse and even bring Savile to justice.

"The victims are hopeful the review will establish a much greater level of accountability than the previous one did. Anything less will rightly be seen as a whitewash by those people still suffering from the awful crimes Savile committed all those years ago.

"At Stoke Mandeville Savile had free rein - that in itself is inexcusable and in hindsight also inexplicable. That he used this power to commit horrific crimes against patients who had every reason to believe they were safe is shocking."