A GRIEVING daughter says her late mother's possessions have been lost or stolen from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Items belonging to Patricia 'Trish' Jackson, who died of cancer in ward two on Sunday, May 7, have not been returned to her family, daughter Jo Billam said.

A chain, a ring, a mobile phone, glasses and even a pair of pyjamas have gone missing, Jo said.

Members of Mrs Jackson's family are desperate for the items to be returned ahead of her funeral next week.

"We just want her things back," said Jo, who lives in Kinson.

"I've gone to get mum's death certificate and no property of hers has turned up.

"Nobody seems to know what's happened to it."

Mrs Jackson, who was 70, was moved between wards three times during a month-long stay at the hospital.

Her family claim none of the items taken to the hospital were logged in a property book. The book itself then went missing, they say.

Jo said: "We would really like her chain back in particular - it was a gift to my mum from my sister and she never took it off.

"But we also wanted to bury my mum with her glasses, and those have gone missing too.

"It's been absolutely heartbreaking for us that her things are just gone.

"No one seems to be interested in helping us.

"It might be that they're lost or that there's a thief at the hospital.

"Two bags full of her things are gone. Even her socks have gone missing."

Jo said hospital staff want to "brush it all under the carpet".

"So many people come in and out of the hospital all the time that I think they just want it to go away," she said.

"It's been so upsetting for us.

"Losing mum has been terrible. We just want her things to be returned."

Paula Shobbrook, director of nursing and midwifery at Royal Bournemouth Hospital said: “I am sorry this experience has caused additional distress for Mrs Jackson’s family at this difficult time. We are investigating what has happened through our dedicated patient advice and liaison service and will continue to work with the family and update them directly as the investigation continues.”