AN elderly patient had her bank card stolen while she was in hospital.

Police were called by staff at Colchester Hospital at about 5.20pm on Saturday.

A woman in her 80s had her bank card stolen by a woman acting suspiciously.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, posted about the incident on Facebook.

It said: “Our team is saddened by an incident when someone came into a ward at Colchester Hospital and took personal possessions of one of our patients.

“We would like to reassure everyone both the police and our security teams are taking every appropriate action.”

The hospital said as it was now a police matter, it could not provide any more information.

Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester police station on 101 quoting crime reference 42/25706/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.