Shamed TV star Jimmy Savile abused 60 people connected to Stoke Mandeville Hospital over a period of more than 20 years, according to the findings of a report into his activity at the hospital, published this morning.

The abuse, against victims aged from 8 to 40, took place between 1968 and 1992 and ranged between inappropriate touching and rape.

Nine informal complaints were made over his behaviour there, but the report said none were escalated to senior management or taken seriously.

One formal complaint was made but this was later dropped by the complainant’s father due to her serious ill health.

The report said: “Consequently no intelligence about Savile’s behaviour was gathered over the years and no action was taken.”

It added that had procedures that existed in the 1970s been followed by hospital management, Savile’s abuse could have been curtailed.

The report said: “Whilst Savile has to be held accountable for his own actions, the Investigation found there to be a significant responsibility on the part of the NHS.

“Even if no one knew the full extent of Savile’s behaviours (including his sexual offending) during this period, the unofficial appointing of Savile to his position of trust within the hospital, and the subsequent lack of the degree of management, monitoring and supervision that could reasonably have been expected during the 1970s, entailed significant omissions in terms of the duty to protect patients, members of the public and staff. 

“The 1970s was not a lawless decade and there was clear national guidance on portering, voluntary services247 and complaints management (sufficient evidence was found in Buckinghamshire Medical Advisory Committee minutes for the 1960s and 1970s to demonstrate that Stoke Mandeville Hospital had been provided with the relevant guidance).

“Had this guidance been adhered to in relation to Savile it could reasonably be expected that his association with Stoke Mandeville Hospital would have played out very differently, with his access being restricted, his direct contact with patients, staff and visitors both curtailed and supervised, and his performance monitored and managed.”

The report explained how in 1969 Savile went to Stoke Mandeville Hospital as a voluntary porter, appointed with no checks, monitoring or supervision in place.

He was given accommodation on the hospital site and had 24-hour, seven day a week, access to all parts of the hospital building complex.

The report stated that: “From an early stage his disruptive behaviour and constant sexual innuendo caused annoyance and distress to the junior staff within the hospital. However his behaviour was explained away as being part of his eccentric celebrity persona.

“Savile was feted by senior managers as an important asset to the organisation where he was quickly established as an integral part of hospital life.

“It would appear that at no stage were senior managers made aware of either his sexual offending or his unsatisfactory portering performance and poor moral behaviour.”

Click here for a fuller report into today's revelations about Savile's abuse at Stoke Mandeville.