This is the Trust's position following publication of today's national report.

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Julie Dawes, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Nursing said: "In October 2014 the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) received information from the NHS Savile Legacy Unit (SLU) regarding an allegation from a former patient in the Royal Halifax Infirmary during the mid 1970s. The Trust has thoroughly investigated the allegations and has been unable to find any evidence of Jimmy Savile having any link to the Royal Halifax Infirmary at that time.

 

I would like to reassure our patients, their families and members of the public that the way local hospitals operate today is very different from the way they did at that time, with a much greater focus now on security, safeguarding and raising concerns.  Our Trust is committed to doing whatever is required to implement the lessons learned from all of the NHS Savile Investigations published today to ensure we have the highest standards of safety and security for our patients.

Today there are much stronger safety and security measures in place than at the time of the reports. For example:

  • We have security measures in and around our patient areas including locks on wards and electronic access systems
  • We encourage staff to actively challenge unusual activity and visits and to report anything that may be a concern.
  • We have policies in place to ensure all VIPs and celebrities are registered at every visit and accompanied at all times.
  • We promote a culture of openness and patient safety. We proactively campaign for staff to raise concerns at all levels in the organisation.
  • Our senior management team regularly spends time on the wards, with our community teams and in departments speaking to patients, staff and visitors.
  • We have significantly strengthened our internal controls to minimise risks to patient safety including much improved arrangements to protect adults and children in our care, and implemented enhanced employment checks for frontline staff and volunteers.

If you have a concern

Although the formal investigation has now concluded, if you wish to report a concern then Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust will look into any matter you wish to raise and respond to you confidentially.

To raise a concern you can use one of the following routes:

Telephone:      0800 013 0018

Email:          patientadvice@cht.nhs.uk
Write to us:     Patient Advice & Complaints Service, Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Acre Street, Lindley, Huddersfield, HD3 3EA