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The Lancashire Telegraph
News, sport and entertainment from all over East Lancashire
Pensioner robbed while having an operation at Royal Blackburn Hospital (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Pensioner robbed while having an operation at Royal Blackburn Hospital
11:30am Wednesday 5th December 2012 in News
By Dan Clough, Reporter
HEARTBROKEN Marlene McGuirk-Ruane
A THIEF stole a pensioner’s wedding and engagement rings as she had surgery at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Heartbroken Marlene McGuirk-Ruane had gone to the hospital for a keyhole operation to check if she had cancer.
But she was devastated when she found her two wedding rings, two engagement rings and a pair of gold necklaces had been taken from her bag as she lay on the operating table.
A leading patient campaigner described the theft as ‘despicable’ and warned patients to be vigilant.
Police said the incident was one of nine thefts from the hospital reported to them since October 1.
Other items stolen included items from a handbag, a mobile phone, a bike and clothes taken from a staff area.
Mrs McGuirk-Ruane, 77, said she had received one of the wedding rings from her late husband, Jim, 60 years ago.
She said: “I only realised when I got to the hospital that I had forgotten to take my jewellery off.
“When they asked me to change I put everything inside a case I had taken with me.
“We thought I would be in overnight so my husband, Michael, went home and the nurse said I could leave my case at the hospital and it would be safe.
“As I was leaving they got my case and I went home in a taxi.”
Mrs McGuirk-Ruane and her husband, who she married in 2009, had arrived at the hospital at 9.30am for a 10am appointment.
While she was having her blood pressure taken in a small room she was asked to step behind a curtain to get changed.
At that point she put her clothes and jewellery into the case.
She was then taken to another room and she said she did not see her case again until 4.30pm after being told she could go home because her lump was not cancerous.
Mrs McGuirk-Ruane, from Blackpool, said she was so consumed with relief she did not notice the missing jewellery.
She said: “I had been waiting for a month for the surgery so I had been quite upset.
“I had told Michael to take the case home but the nurse said it would be safe so he left it and went home.
“When I checked the case the next day at home I found out it had all gone. I was in shock.
“Nobody should have to go through this. I can’t buy those rings again, they meant so much to me.
“The people who have them should burn in hell.”
Russ McClean, from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), said he was horrified to learn of the theft.
He said: “What sort of despicable person would steal from somebody who is in hospital having treatment or an operation?
“I would ask all patients to be extra vigilant and if they see anything suspicious to report it to a member of staff.
“I would also advise people not to take valuables with them if they are going to hospital.”
A spokeswoman for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The trust has been made aware of this incident.
“The trust is undertaking a full investigation into the allegation and a PALS officer is in the process of contacting Mrs McGuirk directly following her contact with them.”
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (15)
11:47am Wed 5 Dec 12
juanbbien says...
12:07pm Wed 5 Dec 12
AndyW says...
Not to take away from the incident though, absolute low lifes who did this.
1:26pm Wed 5 Dec 12
A Darener says...
Just a suggestion to the health trust, why don't they get in touch with hotel chains or the makers of hotel room safes. Maybe they would sponsor a few safes to be fitted in appropriate places in the hospitals to safeguard patients valuables? This could be good publicity for the hotels.
1:36pm Wed 5 Dec 12
slimitus says...
2:03pm Wed 5 Dec 12
Fire Fly says...
One sick individual caused this...save your condemnation for them because they are the one wandering round a hospital preying on patients.
4:37pm Wed 5 Dec 12
Linzi.cooban says...
(Police said the incident was one of nine thefts from the hospital reported to them since October 1)
some1 who freaquents the hospital quite alot or as i said may possibly work there
4:50pm Wed 5 Dec 12
ladysal says...
Maybe RBH should return to that system? It would after all not involve any cost.
5:34pm Wed 5 Dec 12
A Darener says...
6:26pm Wed 5 Dec 12
phil kernot says...
21 12 2012 , CRB DOES NOT MATCH DOB TO NATIONAL INSURANCE , THATS A FACT , AND PEOPLE FROM THE EU CAN NOT BE CHECKED EITHER , CAUSE AS SOON AS THAY LAND HERE THERE GIVEN A BRAND NEW I.N NUMBER SO IT WORTHLESS PAPER WORK AT THE EXPENCE OF THE BRITISH EMPLOYEE , ( I KNOW THIS IS FACT AS I RUNG AND PUT THIS POINT TO THEM AND THAY SAID ITS TRUE , :(
9:33pm Wed 5 Dec 12
julespent says...
11:25pm Wed 5 Dec 12
Fire Fly says...
8:25am Thu 6 Dec 12
ladysal says...
8:34am Thu 6 Dec 12
A Darener says...
Nursing staff have too much admin to do as it is without unnecessary extra work. Leave the medical staff to do medical work.
10:44am Thu 6 Dec 12
roversjeff says...
3:42pm Thu 6 Dec 12
ladysal says...
"Maybe they would sponsor a few safes to be fitted in appropriate places in the hospitals to safeguard patients valuables? This could be good publicity for the hotels."
How many is a few? Would there be one for each bed? You really think they will sponsr that many for every hospital?
A nurse already has to go through an exhaustive list with the patient before they go to theatre. What is 10 seconds more added to that? Anything added to / taken from the CDT cabinet requires two nurses: again, what is ten seconds added to that?
Yes, nursing staff have too much admin work to do, but this hardly compares, especially if it adds to the patient's peace of mind.