Savile: Hospital Abuse Claims

11 October 2012, 12:07 | Updated: 11 October 2012, 14:27

Claims have been made that Jimmy Savile visited wards at Buckinghamshire's Stoke Mandeville Hospital to find children to abuse.

The TV presenter, who died in October 2011 aged 84, worked at Stoke Mandeville as a volunteer and fundraiser. 

Heart exclusively spoke to a former patient at Stoke Mandeville who said Savile made suggestive remarks to her when she was a patient on the children's ward in the 1970's.

Hear the full interview here.

There are also claims he sought out victims at Leeds General Hospital.

Nurses at Stoke Mandeville are understood to have dreaded Savile's visits because of his behaviour, and would tell children to stay in bed and pretend to be asleep when he came round.

Watch a video report

Both hospitals have expressed their shock at the latest abuse allegations.

In a statement, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust said: "We are shocked to hear of the serious allegations about Jimmy Savile.

"At this stage in the proceedings it would not be appropriate for us to conduct our own internal investigation, however we have been contacted by the police this week and are supporting them fully with their enquiries. If their findings suggest that we do need to take further action then we will do so.

"We have advised our staff that if they have any concerns or wish to raise anything relating to the allegations then they should contact their local police force."

Stoke Mandeville Hospital serves people who live in and around Aylesbury.  Up until the mid 1980s, when Milton Keynes Hospital was opened, it was also the main hospital for people in the southern part of Milton Keynes, including Bletchley.