No evidence of assaults in Wythenshawe Hospital says probe into paedophile Jimmy Savile

savileAn investigation into the activities of former DJ and prolific paedophile has concluded there is no evidence he committed offences at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Savile sexually assaulted victims aged five to 75 in NHS hospitals over decades of unrestricted access, investigators have said.

He assaulted patients in bed, and claimed to have abused corpses in 28 hospitals including Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.

Hospital bosses at Wythenshawe investigated claims made about Savile by patients in the 1960s, but say there is no evidence he was ever there.

They have probed a conversation overheard between teenage outpatients in which they claimed ‘Uncle Jimmy’ was ‘up to no good’ at house parties at his Salford home

Helen Thompson, Lead Investigator for the report by the University Hospital of South Manchester, in Wythenshawe said“A full investigation has been carried out by the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust into a disclosure made about Jimmy Savile by a patient at Wythenshawe Hospital.

“The disclosure was based on a conversation between two patients at some point between 1962 and 1963 at Wythenshawe Hospital concerning Jimmy Savile’s conduct at his home.

“The investigation concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that Jimmy Savile was ever present on the Wythenshawe Hospital site.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation for their contribution.”

In a full statement about the probe into Savile’s activities across the country, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt apologised on behalf of the government and the NHS, for the former TV presenter’s crimes, saying of the victims: “We let them down badly.”

Mr Hunt said there was a “deep sense of revulsion” over the findings.He said: “As a nation, at that time we held Savile in our affection as a somewhat eccentric national treasure with a strong commitment to charitable causes.

“Today’s report shows that in reality he was a sickening and prolific sexual abuser who repeatedly exploited the trust of a nation for his own vile purposes.”

Mr Hunt is writing to all NHS trusts asking them to ensure they are confident about patient safety.

A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “deeply shocked”, adding it was “important lessons are learned”.

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