Distraught daughter's plea to 'cruel' thief after dying mum's ring is stolen from her finger at Royal Oldham hospital

A distraught daughter has pleaded with a cruel thief who has ripped her dying mother's wedding ring off her finger in hospital, to return it.

Police are investigating after the shocking incident, which appears to have taken place between Tuesday evening (20th) and yesterday.

Lynn Hilton, who has stressed that the Royal Oldham Hospital ward staff have been 'amazing' throughout this traumatic ordeal, has appealed directly to the cruel thief on behalf of her beloved elderly mum, Anita Ellis.

Lynn, who has reported the incident to PALS (the Northern Care Alliance's Patient Advice and Liaison Service), said: "On Wednesday (December 14th), my mum was taken by ambulance to the Royal Oldham Hospital after severe haemorrhaging.

"She was later diagnosed with a burst peptic ulcer.

"She was given blood transfusions, had tests, and made comfortable.

"The following Monday she was diagnosed with pneumonia and was placed in palliative care as she was at end of life.

"Myself and other family and friends have visited her every day.

"Five years previously, my father was admitted to the same hospital and his wedding ring and watch went missing.

"I didn’t report it at the time as there was so much else going on at the time.

"As a result of this, me and my family tried to remove the three gold rings from my mother’s hands.

"Her fingers were so swollen that we couldn’t remove them without hurting her.

"On Wednesday afternoon (yesterday), my stepfather visited my mother and saw that her wedding ring finger was not there.

"He reported it on the ward.

"He was told that the inventory which should have been made about her belongings was not made.

"My mother’s friend had left her the previous evening at 7.15pm and all her rings were on her hands, so the wedding ring was taken from her after that time and the afternoon when my stepfather visited.

"Can I stress that the staff at the Royal Oldham are amazing?

"I cannot thank them enough for the care and kindness they are providing to my mother at this incredibly difficult time.

"However, I would like to appeal to the person who cruelly ripped the ring from my mother’s hand to return it.

"She has dementia, but I’m sure that she would have known that her ring was being taken from her, especially as it must have been quite violently forced off.

"I know if might raise a little money as scrap, but to my stepfather, and us as a family, it has huge sentimental value and we would like it to be returned, no questions asked.

"I find it beyond belief that someone could do such a cruel and abusive thing to a lady in her final days."

Police are continuing their investigation and the Chronicle has approached GMP for an update.

Similarly, we have approached the Northern Care Alliance for a response.

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