A heartbroken Scots family have hit out at 'disgusting' thieves who robbed jewellery from their mother as she lay dying in hospital.
Maureen Nicholson was just 64 when she passed away after fighting a chest infection at Glasgow Royal Infirmary last month.
But Maureen's devastated family said that three gold chains and rings which she regularly wore have vanished and not been returned to them.
Due to coronavirus restrictions, Maureen was mostly isolated and underwent covid-19 tests before her passing.
Police have launched a probe into the suspected theft.
Daughter Margaret, 38, cared for the former dinner lady Maureen who suffered from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
She told the Record: "We are just devastated.
"The jewellery isn't worth thousands, it is mostly sentimental value to my family.
"To be honest we have been thinking about it and we think it could only have been a member of staff.
"We have been in touch with the NHS but they just sent us a cheeky reply with a claim form.
"Another person came back to us and apologised for that but it seems that nobody wants to help.
"It just seems so cruel. Having them returned to us would really mean the world."
Margaret said that the family's suffering had already been increased by special coronavirus rules on funerals and visiting bodies.
Maureen passed away on September 23.
Margaret added: "The police have been so nice and helpful, they said someone would be attending the Royal.
"It would mean the world to us to have it back- one of the pieces is a family tree which wouldn't be of use to anyone.
"I keep believing and hoping to myself that one day soon they will come across it."
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Around 10.55pm on Saturday, October, 10 we received a report of a theft of jewellery from a patient at Glasgow Royal Infirmary Hospital while she was there in September.
“The jewellery is still outstanding and enquiries are ongoing.”
A spokeswoman for the health board said: "We understand that this must be a very distressing time for the family and our sympathies are with them at this time.
"We have been in contact with the patient’s daughter to advise that despite extensive searches we have been unable to locate the jewellery and would be happy to co-operate with any police investigation.
"Whilst we have advised on arrangements for compensation, we appreciate the personal and sentimental value associated with such a loss and we are extremely sorry for the additional distress this has caused."
