THIEVING and absent-minded patients are costing health bosses £80,000 a year -- by taking home blankets, bedsheets and nighties when they leave hospital.

East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, which is £6.1million in the red, revealed the annual bill was the equivalent to the cost of 15 hip replacement operations.

They have now launched a laundry amnesty in a bid to re-stock the linen cupboards at hospitals in Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Accrington, Pendle and Rossendale.

Last year an estimated 24,000 items of linen went missing from hospitals in East Lancashire, including 4,000 blankets, 6,000 large sheets and 1,000 nightdresses. The Trust has now appealed for patients to return items including towels, blankets and nightdresses which they may have taken home from hospital.

Jo Walmsley, domestic services manager for Burnley General Hospital, said:" This is a serious issue as the money that goes into replacing items of missing linen could go into direct patient care.

"We would very much appreciate the co-operation of the general public in returning any items they might have in their possession."

The Trust, which was formed a year ago, had financial year end debts of £6.1million which have been blamed on increased demands on the services and increased staffing costs.

Last week, concerns for the effect on patients were raised by former chairman of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care Trust Ian Woolley.

The Trust, which owns linen worth around £1 million and launders 105,000 items of linen each week hopes to save some money by making the public more aware of the laundry problem.

Lynn Fort, laundry manager for Blackburn hospitals, said: "If you have problems keeping tabs on the family laundry and wonder where all the odd socks end up then imagine trying to manage the volume of laundry that gets sent out to the various hospital locations.

"We would like patients to look in their linen cupboards and if they have anything with a hospital stamp on it, return it either to the laundry or the General Office at their nearest Hospital.

"I think items of clothing and linen are in the main taken from hospital by mistake."

Linen bins will be made available in the General Offices at Burnley General Hospital, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Clitheroe Hospital, Queen's Park Hospital, Longridge Hospital, Accrington Victoria Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital and Rossendale Hospital.

Items can also be returned to the laundry at Queen's Park Hospital or linen/sewing Rooms at Burnley General Hospital.