Shropshire Star

Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital reacts to Savile shock with database

A database of volunteers working at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital is to be set up in light of the Jimmy Savile sex scandal.

Published

Bosses will also conduct a review of the use of mobile phones.

They want to ensure photographs are not taken within clinical areas.

The action was agreed after Oswestry Orthopaedic, which Savile visited in 1999 to launch the start of work on its spinal injuries unit, was among all hospitals in England contacted by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson.

In his letter Sir David described the Savile allegations as 'appalling' and said it was 'deeply disturbing to think that abuses of this nature may have occurred in NHS organisations.

Sir David told hospitals: "I would ask that you take the opportunity to review with your boards and working as necessary with local agencies, your own arrangements and practices relating to vulnerable people, particularly in relation to safeguarding, access to patients including that afforded to volunteers or celebrities, and listening to and acting on patient concerns."

The hospital's trust board meeting yesterday was told a review had been carried out and was told staff and League of Friends volunteers underwent CRIB checks.

The board was told the hospital's human resources team will establish a central database of volunteers by April and a review will be made of current mobile phone policy to ensure there is a 'strong statement' regarding not using mobile phones to take photographs in clinical areas.

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