Hospital bosses issue advice to public after 88-year-old says cash went missing
13:21, 28 Dec 2025Updated 10:36, 30 Dec 2025
Lucinda Dalton, 88, at home in Parkgate after being discharged from Arrowe Park(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A woman says £400 went missing from her purse while she was at Arrowe Park Hospital. Lucinda Dalton, 88, was rushed to A&E at Arrowe Park after she fell and fractured her pelvis.
Mrs Dalton had been talking to her sister in the back garden of her home in Parkgate and as she turned around to respond she tripped over a paving stone and fell to the floor, fracturing her pelvis. She was taken to Arrowe Park via ambulance.
She said: “I was given lots of medication by paramedics and I was woozy by the time we got to A&E. I was put on a trolley in A&E for hours in the corridor.”
Mrs Dalton says she was moved to side room in A&E before being moved onto the main ward. She told the ECHO how her sister, who drove in the car behind the ambulance, arrived at Arrowe Park just after her and didn’t leave her side except to go to the toilet.
Once on the main ward Mrs Dalton says her sister handed over her handbag and said “I brought you your handbag from home because I thought you might need it.”
Mrs Dalton says she opened her handbag and her purse was placed at the top. She said: “It was odd. I never put it there, I always tuck it away and put it in the pocket at the side. I opened my purse and the money that was in there was gone.”
Lucinda says £400 went missing from her purse while she was in hospital(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
She said there was £400 inside her purse before she arrived at the hospital, which she was going to gift to her niece Debbie Shakeshaft, 55, from Upton.
Mrs Dalton, whose husband died in February, said her sister, who brought the handbag to the hospital on May 12, had no idea the money was inside the purse or she would have kept it in safer keeping and not on the ward next to them.
She said: “My sister reported the missing money to the nurses on the ward. They were so apologetic and told us not to worry because we will get it back and the hospital will cover it.”
Lucinda with her niece Debbie(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Her niece, Ms Shakeshaft, then made an official complaint to the hospital trust, but claims she was told the hospital “does not accept liability for lost or stolen items.”
A Wirral University Teaching Hospital spokesperson said: “We take all complaints regarding lost property including allegations of theft very seriously and fully investigate the circumstances.
“Despite a comprehensive search of the Emergency Department and a review of CCTV footage by our security team, money was not located and we could not substantiate any allegations of theft.
“We would always advise people not to bring large sums of money into hospital and if they do, they should formally hand them to a member of staff for safe keeping during their stay.
“An investigation was carried out in line with the NHS complaints procedure, and a formal response was provided to the family. We understand the family correctly made contact with the police and we will support any enquiries. Our Patient Experience Team also offered advice on the next steps the family can take, and are available to offer any further assistance they need.”
Ms Shakeshaft also reported the incident to Merseyside Police. A spokesperson for the force said: “We are appealing for information following a reported theft from a hospital.
“It was reported that money was stolen from a woman’s handbag between 8.45pm and 9.40pm at Arrowe Park Hospital.
“An investigation is now underway including obtaining CCTV footage. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook with reference 25000420369.
“You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.
“Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.”
Mrs Dalton added: “It’s a lot of money, it has really upset me. I was already having a tough time after losing my husband, it’s been pretty horrible.”
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