More details have been revealed concerning the allegedly sexual abuse by former BBC DJ and presenter Jimmy Savile.
BBC DJ and presenter Jimmy Savile [File photo] |
Reports have found that Savile, who had unsupervised access to multiple hospitals as a celebrity fundraiser, abused both patients and hospital workers.
Sue Proctor is Leeds Teaching Hospital Investigator.
"Victims included boys and girls, men and women. The ages of the victims ranged from 5 years to 75 years, though the majority were teenagers or young adults. His victims also included hospital stuff, all of whom were female, and a further 8 female victims were teenagers who met with Savile at the hospital. The earliest account dates back to 1962 and the most recent, 2009."
The investigations have been conducted in 28 National Health Service hospitals across the country.
British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has given out an apology to all the victims.
"So today I want to apologise on behalf of the government and the NHS to all the victims who were abused by Savile in NHS run institutions. We let them down badly and however long ago it may have been, many of them are still reliving the pain they went through. If we cannot undo the past, I hope that honesty and transparency about what happened can at least alleviate some of the suffering; it's the least we owe them."
Savile's reputation collapsed after he died in 2011, when hundreds of witnesses and victims came forward accusing him of sexual abuse.