Security staff at the region's hospitals are on "full alert" after reports of expensive thefts from UK hospitals.
John Dell, director of operations at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, spoke after it was revealed criminal gangs snatched equipment worth as much as £300,000 from hospitals in York, Leicester, Newcastle, Cambridge and Durham for re-sale in Africa and Eastern Europe.
The NHS's Counter Fraud and Security Management Service has alerted all hospital authorities to be on their guard.
Mr Dell said: "The Trust has received information from the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service about the theft of expensive items of medical equipment from some NHS hospitals. Our security staff are on full alert."
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