Thieves who broke into a hospital's brand new X-ray department and stole equipment before its official opening were branded "the lowest of the low" by a hospital boss.

Appalled - Senior radiographer Margaret Surrey in the X-ray department at St Michael's Hospital, Braintree, which was raided by thieves Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON

Staff at St Michael's Hospital in Rayne Road, Braintree, were shocked to discover on Wednesday morning that burglars had bypassed a security officer and an alarm system to break into the new £130,000 unit.

They escaped with a £500 Hewlett Packard 15in flat screen computer monitor used to display digital images from the hi-tech X-ray facilities.

While the hospital tried to get another replacement monitor delivered, three patients who arrived for appointments had to be turned away.

The new unit has been billed as a major boost for patients, as previously, results of X-rays took up to ten days to reach a GP.

Now, in urgent cases, images can be communicated to Broomfield Hospital in less than a minute thanks to the new digital equipment.

St Michael's is the first outlying hospital within the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, and one of the first in the country, to have digital X-ray equipment installed.

An official opening of the unit is still due to take place next week.

Richard Hammond, general manager of radiology, said it was "disappointing" that the department was broken into so soon after the revamp.

He said: "It is disappointing because the health service has to be efficient in the way it uses it money.

"Although £500 may not be significant to a company, it is quite significant to us, particularly when it provides to patient care."

Contact Braintree police on 01376 551312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Friday July 9, 2004

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