Thieves are preying on hospital patients in the Black Country and Staffordshire, with everything from wedding rings to cash having been reported stolen in a year.

Patients’ mobile phones, watches, wallets, handbags and jewellery are just some of the items that have fallen prey to thieves, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show.

At Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, two wedding rings were stolen 10 days apart last year – despite the hospital having an extensive security network in place.

Six bikes, nine mobile phones and hundreds of pounds in cash have been taken from New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, among 71 thefts.

Hospitals in Stafford and Cannock had 56 thefts, including nearly £1,000 in cash.

Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital in Birmingham saw 40 thefts of hospital and patient possessions, including a car.

In contrast, Walsall Manor Hospital had only eight instances of theft.

New Cross spokeswoman Samantha Turner said: “We have a range of sophisticated security measures in place, both electronic and behavioural, which are aimed at reducing the risk of theft and always work closely with the local police.

“However, we cannot rely on preventative steps alone. We also require the vigilance of people to make sure valuables are safely stored and that suspicious behaviour is challenged or reported.”

Paula Clark, chief executive of Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The group takes a zero tolerance approach to theft. We have security teams pat-rolling 24 hours a day and monitoring our extensive CCTV camera network.”

Peter Finch, trust security adviser at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Patients are advised not to bring personal items of high value to hospital”.

Maggie Oldham, chief operating officer at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We always encourage staff, patients and visitors to be vigilant and to keep their belongings safe.”