"Apparently it is policy not to provide pillows because they are being stolen (Queen Elizabeth Hospital)"

My elderly mother was taken by ambulance to the QE hospital because she had a nasty fall, she has advanced osteoporosis and severe scoliosis of the spine. I arrived at the hospital approximately 30 minutes later and my mother was extremely uncomfortable not only because she had hurt herself in the fall but because of her back it is physically impossible for her to lie flat on her back. I asked for a pillow so that she could be more comfortable lying on the stretcher as we had already been told it could be an 8 hour wait as she wasn't urgent, the request for a pillow was denied because of the threat of theft. Apparently it is policy to not provide pillows because they are being stolen...really! You have to walk past security to exit the emergency department I would have thought a pillow would be a little difficult to hide. After an extended wait we left and went to our own GP, that way my mother actually got to see a doctor and receive an xray all within 3 hours. We didn't opt for that option first because she couldn't breathe at the time of the fall which was quite alarming requiring immediate attention.