Rayleigh grandmother subject to fraud whilst in hospital

Hazel Longhurst, 65, was a cancer inpatient at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London when 33-year-old Mira Solmaz, who was supposed to take care of her, used her cards in 2021.

There was around £1,660 worth of fraudulent purchases, City of London Police said.

Solmaz, of Mare Street, Hackney, east London, has been sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after admitting a series of offences including fraud, possession of articles for use in fraud and money laundering.

Fraud - Mira Solmaz has been sentenced (Image: City of London Police)

Retired palliative care nurse from Rayleigh, Ms Longhurst, said she had worked in the NHS “my whole life” and was in “absolute disbelief” that the worker could prey on her vulnerability.

“I was in absolute disbelief that somebody who worked for the NHS, somebody who was in the caring system could do this to a very vulnerable person.

“I was extremely ill. They didn’t think I was going to pull through.

“I was fighting for my life. I was in there a long time.”

Ms Longhurst had received text alerts from Tesco Bank warning of unusual activity on her account but initially thought they were a scam.

Her daughter Melanie Turner, 43, believed it was a phishing scam as she thought her mother’s cards were safely locked in a cupboard at hospital.

Family - Hazel Longhurst in hospital with daughter Melanie Turner (Image: City of London Police)

Ms Turner said she tried to cancel the two cards – with Tesco Bank and Halifax – but as she was not the account holder and did not have power of attorney, she was limited in what she could do, and her mother had to do it.

Ms Longhurst said she spent hours on the phone getting the cards cancelled from her hospital bed, at a time when the pandemic was causing disruption to services.

She said that the nurses at the hospital were “wonderful” and were “upset, they were crying” when they found out what had happened.

Ms Longhurst said that “out of their own pocket a couple of the nurses bought me some food” as, with her cards cancelled, she was unable to order snacks.

Her daughter added: “There is so many emotions that you’re going through.

“No one in hospital should have to be looking over your shoulder the whole time. I think it takes a very certain type of person to prey on the vulnerable.

“That is something we as a society should meet with zero tolerance really.”