THE theft of hundreds of pounds from elderly patients at a North-East hospital has been reported to police.

Two women in Ward 44 of Darlington Memorial Hospital say they have had cash stolen from their bedside lockers. Staff have also reported clothing being stolen.

Doris Tomlin, 88, who was taken to hospital after collapsing in her sheltered accommodation, had £70 stolen from a bag inside a cupboard next to her bed.

Another woman, who has not been named, has reported the theft of £800 - her life savings.

Mrs Tomlin's son, Christopher, said his mother had been frightened by the theft. She has since had other small items stolen, including chocolate and fruit juice.

"It has knocked her for six. She wonders if anything else is going be stolen," he said. "My mother is 88 and virtually immobile but very much aware of what is happening in the world."

Mr Tomlin said when he reported the incident to a nurse, she told him there had been a number of thefts from patients in previous weeks.

"I have since spoken to another member of staff who informed me that it is not only the patients who are being robbed of their personal things but the staff have also had items stolen.

"This is the last thing you expect to happen in a hospital. It is distressing enough for my mother to be in there without the added worry of this."

A spokesman for Darlington Primary Care Trust said: "We are sorry for the distress caused to Mrs Tomlin and her family.

"We can confirm that two months ago, over a period of a few days there were two reports of thefts of money from patients' lockers on Ward 44 and some reports of pilfering from staff of items of clothing.

"We informed police of both reported thefts from patients and we asked them to investigate. There have been no incidents since then."

He advised patients not to take valuables or large sums of money into hospital.

A Durham Police spokesman said that in May the theft of a wallet from Ward 34 was also reported to police and in June, the theft of a handbag from the ground floor.