Stoke Mandeville Hospital under pressure to open Savile inquiry

1:34pm Monday 15th October 2012 in Health By Lawrence Dunhill

Hospital under pressure to open Savile inquiry Hospital under pressure to open Savile inquiry

STOKE Mandeville Hospital is under increasing pressure to hold an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse of patients by Jimmy Savile.

The hospital is also said to be facing legal action from alleged victims – as well as questions about why the TV presenter had access to his own room on the hospital site right up until his death last year.

Claims emerged last week that Savile had groped young patients at Stoke Mandeville, where he worked as a volunteer porter and fundraiser from 1969. He is thought to have raised £40 million for charity, much of which went towards the hospital's spinal injuries unit.

Reading MP Rob Wilson said: “I do not think what is alleged to have happened at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to be acceptable in a decent society.

“I have written to the chief executive of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust today to request a full inquiry into what happened, what was known at the time, what records were kept and what is known now.

“If it is true, as alleged by ex-staff, that they were warned about Savile by hospital managers, they could be complicit in the most disturbing of crimes.

“For the sake of the hospital’s reputation, I urge the Trust not to drag its feet and act quickly. We now need openness and transparency, not the establishment closing ranks.”

The BBC has opened two separate inquiries relating to the claims about Savile.

Personal injury lawyer Liz Dux says she has been contacted by several women who want to sue over the allegations.

She is preparing cases against the BBC and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, saying even if Savile was only a volunteer he still acted as an ‘agent’, while the hospital has a duty of care to patients.

Meanwhile ex-patient Rebecca Owen, who spent several months in the hospital’s spinal injuries unit in the 1980s, has questioned why the Jim’ll Fix It star was ever given a flat within the hospital site.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Stoke Mandeville Hospital, said in a statement: “We have been shocked and saddened to hear of the very serious allegations about Jimmy Savile dating back to the 1970s.

“We have no record of any complaints of this nature and would have taken swift and decisive action if this had formally been raised with us.

“In 2010/11 we participated in a multiagency review which concluded that our current safeguarding processes were robust, however we constantly assure ourselves that all the correct procedures are in place.

“We continue to cooperate fully with the police in their enquiries and have met with them to discuss their review.

“We will maintain close contact with the police and once they have reported back over the next few weeks we will look at their findings to agree whether we should follow-up with our own internal enquiry.

“We are working closely with our staff and will support them in reporting to the police should they have any information related to the allegations.

“Jimmy Savile and his team had access to a room outside of the main hospital and away from clinical areas. This was made available to them in conjunction with their fundraising activity, and was utilised by them until his death.”

On a national scale, police say Savile's alleged catalogue of abuse could have included about 60 victims and spanned six decades.

Comments (11)

3:31pm Mon 15 Oct 12

Stalemate says...

Now then, now then....
Now then, now then.... Stalemate

4:06pm Mon 15 Oct 12

Slacker says...

Not just this hospital but anywhere where Mr Savile spent time working.

It is a shame this has come out after his death as he has no chance to defend himself in a court of law. So an inquiry should seek out the extent of the allegations and they will always be allegations rather than proven true fact but if they make the assumption that everything did happen then there is a chance to learn lessons and make damned sure this does not happen again.

Also a chance to find out if it happened who knew about it and why they covered it up - could there be prosecutions for example of corruption and receipt of bribes?
Not just this hospital but anywhere where Mr Savile spent time working. It is a shame this has come out after his death as he has no chance to defend himself in a court of law. So an inquiry should seek out the extent of the allegations and they will always be allegations rather than proven true fact but if they make the assumption that everything did happen then there is a chance to learn lessons and make damned sure this does not happen again. Also a chance to find out if it happened who knew about it and why they covered it up - could there be prosecutions for example of corruption and receipt of bribes? Slacker

4:10pm Mon 15 Oct 12

Slacker says...

Just to add I also think an inquiry is important to weed out the possibility of scrupulous people making allegations in an effort to financially profit from any legal action.

Don't get me wrong, the victims need to be heard and compensated if necessary but in the society we live today sadly there are people who will seek to gain from such a situation especially given there is little evidence to disprove anything happened.

News reporting today currently up to 60 victims in 60 years. The true figure is probably more.
Just to add I also think an inquiry is important to weed out the possibility of scrupulous people making allegations in an effort to financially profit from any legal action. Don't get me wrong, the victims need to be heard and compensated if necessary but in the society we live today sadly there are people who will seek to gain from such a situation especially given there is little evidence to disprove anything happened. News reporting today currently up to 60 victims in 60 years. The true figure is probably more. Slacker

5:56pm Mon 15 Oct 12

demoness the second says...

My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc.
I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants.
Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.
My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc. I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants. Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall. demoness the second

7:16pm Mon 15 Oct 12

geoffW says...

demoness the second wrote:
My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc.
I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants.
Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.
There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it".
.
It is "look at me" political posturing.
.
There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves.
.
The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves.
.
Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.
[quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc. I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants. Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.[/p][/quote]There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it". . It is "look at me" political posturing. . There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves. . The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves. . Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine. geoffW

7:24pm Mon 15 Oct 12

demoness the second says...

geoffW wrote:
demoness the second wrote:
My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc.
I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants.
Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.
There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it".
.
It is "look at me" political posturing.
.
There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves.
.
The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves.
.
Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.
he needs to worry about his own patch - Broadmoor has been affected too ,
[quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc. I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants. Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.[/p][/quote]There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it". . It is "look at me" political posturing. . There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves. . The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves. . Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.[/p][/quote]he needs to worry about his own patch - Broadmoor has been affected too , demoness the second

12:31am Tue 16 Oct 12

ivor says...

By the time the claims for damages and legal expenses have been settled I fear that may not be much (if any) of the £40m raised by Jimmy left.
~
They should wait before holding an inquiry as I fear there may be more to come out on the JS story....
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.
By the time the claims for damages and legal expenses have been settled I fear that may not be much (if any) of the £40m raised by Jimmy left. ~ They should wait before holding an inquiry as I fear there may be more to come out on the JS story.... ~ Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page. ivor

8:03am Tue 16 Oct 12

Ivor'sbestfriend says...

Why are you scared Ivor? Are you one of the people likely to be implicated in this?
Why are you scared Ivor? Are you one of the people likely to be implicated in this? Ivor'sbestfriend

10:33am Tue 16 Oct 12

stevet123 says...

demoness the second wrote:
geoffW wrote:
demoness the second wrote:
My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc.
I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants.
Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.
There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it".
.
It is "look at me" political posturing.
.
There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves.
.
The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves.
.
Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.
he needs to worry about his own patch - Broadmoor has been affected too ,
the goverment should pay for all this, and let stoke manderville get on with coping with the extra patients it now has from the High Wycombe area, all because of a tory think tank with no road sense
[quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc. I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants. Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.[/p][/quote]There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it". . It is "look at me" political posturing. . There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves. . The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves. . Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.[/p][/quote]he needs to worry about his own patch - Broadmoor has been affected too ,[/p][/quote]the goverment should pay for all this, and let stoke manderville get on with coping with the extra patients it now has from the High Wycombe area, all because of a tory think tank with no road sense stevet123

1:12pm Tue 16 Oct 12

I Love Ivor says...

Now i know that there could be a lot behind these stories but let us just remember that a lot of these allegations are about things that happened 30+ years ago. It is only just recently that things like 'Sitting on Santa's knee' has become outlawed because of any possible repercussions. In the 60's and 70's this sort of thing was common place and no one battered an eyelid (I am not saying it was right or wrong but it was accepted). I met Jimmy Saville on a number of occasions at S.M. and he was always putting his arm around people and sitting an chatting with them on his knee or giving them a cuddle. If that is what a lot of these allegations boil down to then i think it is sad. It is also interesting that the allegations started coming though ITV, a company that for years tried to get J.S. to leave the BBC and join them but were not successful. Sour Grapes maybe? Who knows?
.

It is a real shame that this has come out after his death, he will never be able to defend himself and everyone will have a lasting impression that Sir Jimmy was some kind of sexual predator!
.
Like i said, i met him on a few occasions and never had any issues with him, very eccentric but nothing more!
Now i know that there could be a lot behind these stories but let us just remember that a lot of these allegations are about things that happened 30+ years ago. It is only just recently that things like 'Sitting on Santa's knee' has become outlawed because of any possible repercussions. In the 60's and 70's this sort of thing was common place and no one battered an eyelid (I am not saying it was right or wrong but it was accepted). I met Jimmy Saville on a number of occasions at S.M. and he was always putting his arm around people and sitting an chatting with them on his knee or giving them a cuddle. If that is what a lot of these allegations boil down to then i think it is sad. It is also interesting that the allegations started coming though ITV, a company that for years tried to get J.S. to leave the BBC and join them but were not successful. Sour Grapes maybe? Who knows? . It is a real shame that this has come out after his death, he will never be able to defend himself and everyone will have a lasting impression that Sir Jimmy was some kind of sexual predator! . Like i said, i met him on a few occasions and never had any issues with him, very eccentric but nothing more! I Love Ivor

1:31pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Darren Hayday says...

stevet123 wrote:
demoness the second wrote:
geoffW wrote:
demoness the second wrote:
My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc.
I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants.
Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.
There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it".
.
It is "look at me" political posturing.
.
There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves.
.
The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves.
.
Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.
he needs to worry about his own patch - Broadmoor has been affected too ,
the goverment should pay for all this, and let stoke manderville get on with coping with the extra patients it now has from the High Wycombe area, all because of a tory think tank with no road sense
hear, hear! - It's just as shocking to hear about the terrible stories coming from people who have to go to Stoke - than it is from hearing the stories of Jimmy Savile. Who I am disgusted with and also the people commenting on here that it was acceptable in those days, etc

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

There are many more people out there that are being protected for all sorts of crooked and twisted vices/practices. It's about time that they were all 'outed' and treated like the rest of the public. Not protected because of their status or from political friends, etc
[quote][p][bold]stevet123[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]geoffW[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]demoness the second[/bold] wrote: My understanding is that the hospital are not having their own inquiry but are co operating fully with the police which means impartial experts will be dealing with everything and they will have access to any records etc. I am not quite sure what this dozy MP wants. Surely the police are the ones to deal with it - it is a criminal investigation afterall.[/p][/quote]There will be an inquiry at Stoke Mandeville hospital after the police investigation has been completed. This is the proper way to do things. Wilson knows that. However as soon as it is annopunced he will come out and say "They wouldn't have done it if I hadn't demanded it". . It is "look at me" political posturing. . There are now too many people jumping on the bandwagon trying to get something out of this awful situation for themselves. . The worst thing of all is the way the tabloids are rushing round shouting "why didn't they do something", when all along THEY KNEW and did nothing themselves. . Does anyone really believe that they didn't know? They didn't want to be seen to be the ones sticking the knife in to a "national treasure" so they allowed it to continue. Now if it was untrue and they were making it up ... that would be fine.[/p][/quote]he needs to worry about his own patch - Broadmoor has been affected too ,[/p][/quote]the goverment should pay for all this, and let stoke manderville get on with coping with the extra patients it now has from the High Wycombe area, all because of a tory think tank with no road sense[/p][/quote]hear, hear! - It's just as shocking to hear about the terrible stories coming from people who have to go to Stoke - than it is from hearing the stories of Jimmy Savile. Who I am disgusted with and also the people commenting on here that it was acceptable in those days, etc You should be ashamed of yourselves. There are many more people out there that are being protected for all sorts of crooked and twisted vices/practices. It's about time that they were all 'outed' and treated like the rest of the public. Not protected because of their status or from political friends, etc Darren Hayday

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