EVERYONE who is cared for by the National Health Service has a right, under the NHS Constitution, to choose a GP surgery and the hospital in which they are treated.

But nowhere does it mention the right to have their handbag looked after.

Perhaps it should, because while Brenda Scott lay unconscious in a York Hospital bed, her bag was stolen.

While North Yorkshire Police describe the theft as “truly disgraceful”, a spokeswoman for the hospital urged patients to keep the risk of theft to a minimum by only taking in essential items and keeping as close to them as possible.

But that would be rather difficult to do when you are asleep.

We fully understand that the most important right is to be seen in a timely manner and to be treated appropriately. But even with stretched staffing levels, surely it isn’t too much to ask that a patient’s property is locked away when they are incapacitated.

This was an unfortunate incident and rather than being quick to blame hospital staff, let’s hope it will serve as a timely reminder that despite someone’s health being the obvious priority, patients’ rights ought to include some safeguards for personal property.