Security has been stepped up at a hospital after thieves stole vital canisters of oxygen and nitrous oxide used for patients.
The shocking theft comes as NHS staff across Greater Manchester and the country work flat out to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and treat patients.
Greater Manchester Police are investigating the theft at Withington Community Hospital in West Didsbury.
Eight canisters were taken in total, the M.E.N. can reveal.
They were a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide.
Detectives said the public would be ‘rightly disgusted’ at the theft given the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s understood staff at the hospital on Nell Lane discovered the theft on Saturday morning.
Police said that at around 3.30am on Saturday, three men got out of a black BMW outside a delivery loading area at the hospital.
A lock was cut on a standalone metal unit containing the canisters and they were stolen.
The car was captured being driven away towards Princess Parkway, GMP said.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the biggest NHS trust in charge of nine hospitals in Manchester, confirmed security on site has been increased as a result.
The trust said it was working with police to investigate.
There are no in-patients at Withington Community Hospital.
A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) said: “Following the theft of a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide canisters at Withington Community Hospital over the weekend, we have notified Greater Manchester Police and are working with them to investigate this incident.
“We have increased security at the site and would encourage anyone with further details to contact the police.”
Inspector Andrew Hughes, of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “Given current circumstances, I’m sure the community will quite rightly share our disgust at the theft of equipment from a local hospital.
“We’re determined to find those responsible for this crime and I’d appeal to anyone with information or who may be able to assist us with dash-cam footage to come forward as soon as possible.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
Call police on 0161 856 6086 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
