TOUGH NEW security measures at Dundee’s biggest hospital have cut the number of sneak thefts to just over one a week.

Throughout the rest of the NHS in Scotland, thefts happen on average more than twice a day, and cost the service more than £100,000 to replace hospital equipment and patients’ personal effects.

NHS Tayside has invested heavily in new security systems to the effect that while thefts in 2005 were running at more than one a week, they have now dropped to fewer than 50 in a full year.

This is despite the many hundreds of thousands of staff and patients thronging Tayside’s acute and cottage hospitals on a daily basis.

Although Tayside is not the most effective amongst the health authorities in Scotland in preventing sneak thieves, it is not the worst.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde saw more than 500 items missing in two years, reported as “lost,” while there were 182 recorded thefts over the same period in the Grampian area.

Among the reported thefts over the past two years have been computer monitors, laptop computers, even hospital gardening tools.

Patients’ and staff lockers have also been rifled and clothes, jewellery, mobile phones and credit cards taken.

Brian Main, site manager at Ninewells Hospital, said, “We have invested heavily in our security systems over the past few years and as a result, of this, we have witnessed a noticeable reduction in crime.

“We work closely with Tayside Police in the planning of our all security developments, including monitoring CCTV footage. We firmly believe the investment in the security system has been key to the success and it is our aim to continue with this strategy in the future.”