Crime and carelessness costing NHS over £1m

Published on 23/02/2011 17:10

Equipment worth more than £1 million has been lost or stolen from the NHS over a 12-month period.

The total of 1.13m in 2009-10 is almost double the previous year's figure, leading to claims that the health service is being targeted by criminals.

Labour health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson, who obtained the details from the Scottish Government, said he has been told stolen items included laptops which may hold "sensitive" patient information.

Last year, equipment worth 252,611 was registered as lost from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Other totals included 166,637 in Highland, 111,619 in Tayside and 145,522 in Lothian. No figure was registered for NHS Borders or Western Isles.

Dr Simpson said: "It is difficult to imagine a worse crime than stealing from a hospital. The people who are doing this are the lowest of the low. We simply cannot afford for this to continue."

The government says the numbers may have been increased because of more rigorous reporting of losses and a "high value of stock write-offs".