74-year-old patient says belongings stolen at St. Paul's hospital

A 74-year-old man from Estevan is upset after he says someone made of with belongings from his room at St. Paul’s hospital.
 
Donald Linklater was waiting for surgery when he went out Saturday on a day pass with his daughter.
 
He said he got back to the hospital to find his glasses, clothes and travel bag all gone.
 
While he doesn’t expect to get the items back again, Linklater said he’d like to see better security at the hospital in the wake of the theft.
 
“Why isn’t somebody stationed at the door and after, say, 9 o’clock at night? (If) someone comes through there, ‘where are you going?’ and if you can’t give a reason — bingo, you’re out,” he said.
 
His daughter Michelle said hospital staff seemed to be all too used to hearing about patients having their belongings stolen.
 
“We reported it, and kind of the feedback we get is: ‘well, do you not know the area that you’re in?'” she said.

Michelle said she was shocked in the wake of the theft to find people brazenly selling stolen items right out front of the hospital doors.

“I spent the whole day down in there. I don’t even want to say what all I could buy and for how cheap I could buy it,” she said during an appearance on Gormley Monday morning. 

She said she even got a line on what she believes are her father’s eyeglasses.

“I’m looking at buying my Dad’s glasses today. I’m meeting up with someone, so there’s a good chance I’ll be able to buy my Dad’s glasses today,” she said. 

 In an emailed statement, the Saskatoon Health Region said it can’t take responsibility for stolen property.

The statement noted patients are urged not to leave valuables in their rooms. They said there are closets and bedside tables in the rooms where items can be stored out of sight.