A cardiac monitor worth £5,000 has been stolen from the A&E department of Medway Maritime Hospital.

The life-saving equipment, which checks patients’ heart rates, was taken in one of several thefts of costly equipment from the Gillingham hospital.

Margaret Gilham, general manager of the hospital’s League of Friends, which has raised money for the monitors, said: "I can’t understand how they got it out of the hospital.

"Who would want to take it? It’s disgusting. These devices save lives – they are an essential piece of equipment for nurses."

Thecrime was revealed in a list of thefts from the hospital obtained by the Medway Messenger. Full report in Friday's paper.