17 February 2006
Expensive medical equipment could be electronically tagged in the future after a spate of thefts from hospitals.
The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service revealed its plans after it emerged that police were investigating a number of robberies at NHS hospitals.
Thieves stole endoscopes worth £300,000 from York Hospitals Trust just before Christmas, while similar equipment worth £250,000 was taken from University Hospitals of Leicester Trust. Other thefts occurred in London, Cambridge and the Northeast.
It is not yet clear if this was the work of one gang, but NHS managers and police believe the equipment is being stolen for sale in Eastern Europe or Africa.
A spokesman for the NHS's security management service said it was working with police to catch the thieves and prevent further losses.
'Better use of the latest technology is part of this programme of work. We are actively exploring new radio frequency technology to track and trace high value pieces of NHS equipment. This "electronic tagging" may be used as both a preventative measure and to monitor the whereabouts of key pieces of medical equipment,' he added.
Mike Proctor, the York trust's chief operating officer, said the thieves knew exactly what they were after.
'At the end of each day the equipment is dismantled for cleaning and they were able to gather all the bits together. They ignored the traditional fare of robbers, such as computers, as they walked back through the unit.'
The endoscopy unit lost only half a day due to the theft, and security had been tightened, he added.
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