A HAMPSHIRE hospital is missing thousands of pounds worth of vital equipment out on loan.

Southampton patients suffering from breathing difficulties are being forced to wait for essential treatment as stocks of nebulisers, right, reach critical levels.

In a bid to reclaim some of the £48,000 worth of breathing equipment out on loan bosses at Southampton General Hospital have called an amnesty.

The shortage is a result of patients failing to return nebulisers, which they have been given on loan from the respiratory centre team at the hospital.

There are currently more than 600 nebulisers out on loan to patients across the region, each set costing around £80, and 150 of those should have already been returned.

The lack of returns is now causing delays in treatment for those in need and preventing staff from sending away machines in need of repair as there are no replacements available.

Hospital bosses hope this appeal will encourage former patients to dig out any equipment they have been given on loan and return it immediately.

Jon Watson, charge nurse, said: “Although we have sent letters to most of the patients who currently have a nebuliser in an attempt to recover them, it has so far proved unsuccessful.

“Each set costs around £80 and we are unable to continue replacing them as we have a constant need to update and renew other equipment in the department.

“We are asking any patients who do not currently require the use of their equipment to drop it back to us as soon as possible.”

If you or a relative have a device to return to the respiratory centre call 023 8079 4325.