A former barrister has been brought in to oversee the investigations into Jimmy Savile’s activities at Stoke Mandeville, Broadmoor and Leeds General Infirmary.

Kate Lampard will provide “independent oversight” of the inquiries, the prime minister’s official spokesman said.

The former deputy chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service was appointed by the Department of Health to keep a check on the three investigations, he said.

Police believe the DJ and television presenter’s alleged catalogue of sex abuse could have spanned six decades and included about 60 victims.

As well as the investigations into his activities at the hospitals former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith and ex-Sky News executive Nick Pollard are leading the BBC’s independent reviews into the sex abuse allegations.

But Labour is calling for an independent inquiry to look into the scandal overall. Deputy leader Harriet Harman told the BBC: “I think what we need to do is get to the truth. Clearly something terrible went on for many years across a number of institutions and I think we need to learn the lessons.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “The health secretary has appointed Kate Lampard - a former practising barrister and former deputy chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service - to oversee the Department of Health’s, and three NHS trusts’ input into the ongoing inquiries relating to Jimmy Savile’s involvement with the NHS.

“She will provide oversight of the Stoke Mandeville, Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor inquiries as well as the Department of Health’s inquiries into the appointment and role Savile held at Broadmoor Hospital. All relevant information from these inquiries will be passed to the police.”

 

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