A WOMAN has spoken out after her elderly mother’s 18-carat gold ring was allegedly stolen during an overnight stay in hospital.

Catherine Prentice, 56, of Mayland, has called for Chelmsford’s Broomfield Hospital to tighten procedures after her 84-year-old mother’s ring vanished.

Margaret Brooks, of South Woodham Ferrers, was admitted to hospital on December 30 after suffering a mini-stroke.

She also has Parkinson’s.

Catherine claims the ring was on her finger that evening, but was gone the next morning.

She said: “My mother got admitted from the GP straight from home and we got on to the ward at half five.

“By 8.30pm we were heading off as it was the end of visitor hours.

“When I arrived at 10am the next morning there was no diamond ring on her finger.

“My mum hasn’t taken her ring off in 40 years – it was a present from her husband.

“The nurse said she would have a look around for it, but later they said they were sorry to say they couldn’t find the ring.

“Because the ring is missing and insured, we had to contact the police.”

Catherine claims the issue has arisen because of a “lack of care”.

She added: “She was meant to be in place of safety – a place you’re meant to trust.

“In most cases, for those that are extra vulnerable and going into hospital ill, there is a procedure in place for staff to remove their jewellery and put it in an envelope which goes in the safe.

“She was not protected while she was in there.

“There should have been procedures in place to protect people, especially people that are elderly and confused.”

Catherine said she had been told police and ward staff are aware of similar instances.

She is now appealing for others with similar experiences to come forward.

She said: “My disappointment comes from the way police and ward staff have treated it.

“When people have property stolen and report it to the hospital, unless they have clear proof, it’s just considered ‘lost’.

“Staff were fully aware of an issue on the ward.

“It’s not acceptable. The distress that has been brought about is incomprehensible.

“The police need to take it very seriously to stop this happening again.

“It’s heartbreaking and soul-destroying that anyone could go so far to do this.

“The last thing you want is to wake up and realise you’ve been mugged of something given to you by your recently deceased husband, something which holds so much personal value.

“It’s heartbreaking because my mother spent a lot of time looking for the ring.

“She doesn’t feel complete without it and I would like to get that ring back on her finger before I lose her.”

In a statement, Broomfield Hospital said: “We take issues of security very seriously and do all we can to keep patients’ belongings safe.

“We are aware of the allegation and are assisting police with their investigation.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are currently investigating reports of the theft of a ring from Broomfield Hospital sometime between 8.10pm Monday 30 December and 10am Tuesday 21 December.

“Our investigation is ongoing, and we are following all lines of enquiry.”

The ring is described as being 18-carat gold and having two emeralds with diamonds either side.

Anyone with any information should call the police on 101 quoting crime reference 42/205409/19.