More than 70 thefts reported at Essex hospitals

More than 70 thefts were reported across hospitals in Essex in 2025, figures showed.

Items snatched from staff, patients and relatives included money and electronic devices, as well as medical equipment.

It happened at hospitals in Harlow, Basildon, Southend-on-Sea, Broomfield and Colchester, data supplied under the Freedom of Information Act revealed.

The three trusts that run the hospitals each told the BBC they took security at their sites seriously, and had preventative measures in place.

There were 12 thefts reported at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and the same amount at Colchester Hospital.

One of the allegations made in Colchester involved an item being stolen from the obstetrics and gynaecology area.

Doug Ward, its director of estates and facilities, said it was "really disappointing" and that these incidents would be upsetting for victims.

Forty-nine thefts were reported at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals.

Burns, emergency and children's wards were all targeted on occasion, the data showed.

Natasha Kerrigan, the trust's chief estates and infrastructure officer, said incidents remained a rarity.

She said each hospital had a constant security presence, adding all reported crimes were "taken extremely seriously and investigated".

There were a total of 73 allegations made across the county's hospitals in 2025 - a small increase on 71 the year prior.

Tom Burton, the interim deputy chief executive at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said thefts at his site had fallen by more than 40% over the past year.

He said this was thanks to strengthened security measures, including wider CCTV, robust investigations and restricted access to sensitive areas.

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