UK COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM HOSPITALthis is scunthorpe - news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars'HOSPITAL THEFTS ARE DEPLORABLE'


12:30 - 06 May 2004

Union officials have branded a spate of thefts at Scunthorpe General Hospital, which included a thief gaining access to the medical records room, as 'deplorable'.

Three computers were taken in a series of incidents, including one from an operating theatre, over the bank holiday weekend, prompting calls for better measures to protect the hospital and its staff. Julian Corlett, secretary of the Scunthorpe health branch of Unison, said: "We are continually raising the issue of site security generally, and are concerned about this spate of deplorable incidents.

"This outbreak will focus minds on the issue once again.

"But the fact is that without dedicated, robust and sustainable security provisions, the employer inevitably ends up responding to incidents rather than preventing them."
A spokeswoman for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust said the trust was finalising plans to improve security at the hospital, but did not say exactly what measures were being brought in.

"We are putting finishing touches to our new car parking and security plans and they should be announced at our next board meeting," she said.

Unions and staff representatives were consulted while the security plans were being drawn up, the trust spokeswoman explained.

The thefts did not interrupt the hospital's operating schedule, or force the cancellation of any procedures, and patient care was not compromised, the spokeswoman added.

"As somewhere which is open to the public 365 days a year and dedicated to healing and saving lives, we would condemn those people who commit any act of criminality on our premises," she added.

The thefts happened either last Saturday, Sunday or Monday, and were reported to police on Tuesday morning.

Computer equipment was stolen from an operating theatre, and two computers were stolen from the orthopaedic office, in the Coronation Block, police said.

The thieves also sneaked into the medical records room and forced lockers and drawers, from which they stole a quantity of cash.

Police are still investigating how the thieves gained access to the medical records room.

Det Insp Steve Clay of Humberside Police said it was believed all three thefts were down to the same person.

Officers are also investigating whether a member of staff could have been responsible for the thefts, or whether a thief had sneaked into the building.

"We are keeping an open mind on that but we do think all three thefts were down to the same person," said Det Insp Clay.

Anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously at Scunthorpe General Hospital over the bank holiday weekend is urged to contact police on (01724) 282888.

In February the Scunthorpe Telegraph reported incidents of violence against Scunthorpe Hospital staff were at an 'unacceptable level'.

In the last three months of last year there were 22 incidents of violence or abuse against members of staff.

This led to discussions about better security at the hospital such as more CCTV cameras, 24-hour guard patrols and locking doors, but no improvements have been brought in yet.

Police are also investigating a handbag snatch at Scunthorpe General Hospital yesterday.

The incident happened at about 4.50pm. The bag was taken from a woman who getting out of a lift. Her father and daughter gave chase, and the thief dropped the handbag, before making off towards the hospital's D-floor.

The offender is described as white, 6ft tall, and of slight build. He was wearing grey trousers and a camel or beige-coloured anorak. The right-hand side of his face was described as 'wrinkled' and he had a flesh wound on the left-hand side of his cheek.

Police have not linked this incident with the bank holiday thefts