Welwyn Garden City grandad's jewellery stolen in hospital
A GRANDAD had his gold cross and chain stolen from around his neck while he slept in a hospital bed. Staff at the QE2 Hospital had already lost 77-year-old Steve Spreadbury's wedding ring while he was being X-rayed. But the next day his family discovered,
A GRANDAD had his gold cross and chain stolen from around his neck while he slept in a hospital bed.
Staff at the QE2 Hospital had already lost 77-year-old Steve Spreadbury's wedding ring while he was being X-rayed.
But the next day his family discovered, to their anger, the grandad-of-four's chain had gone missing.
The distinctive gold necklace is a match with that of his wife of 54 years, Joan.
Mr Spreadbury, of the Haldens area of WGC, was admitted to hospital on Friday, March 13 suffering from heart failure and dementia.
Director of nursing Sue Greenslade said: "We are, of course, sorry for any upset caused to Mr Spreadbury and his family.
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"This whole issue, however, underlines the importance of our general advice to patients and their families/carers that they should not bring valuables in to hospital.
"If this is not possible, we do encourage they are taken home following a patient's admission.
"Our wards are busy places where such items can go missing where people are not in a fit state to look after them themselves."
But Mr Spreadbury's daughter Sue fumed: "The hospital's response is an absolute disgrace.
"My father was unconscious and fighting for his life when he was admitted and no-one asked us to remove any valuables from him.
"My father had not been without his wedding ring for 54 years and his cross and chain are a symbol of his faith. Why should these be removed?
"No-one would expect these to be stolen from a very sick and vulnerable man."
Mr Spreadbury was a staunch campaigner for the QE2's survival, even joining hundreds of others at MP Grant Shapps' protest rally in the summer of 2007.
Mr Shapps said: "It's concerning to think criminal activity can take place in a hospital which we would all regard as a safe haven.
"While it's good advice to remove valuable items before going into hospital, in an emergency situation that's clearly an impractical thing to ask.
