BARNSLEY Hospital has received numerous complaints about bogus calls from someone claiming to be from the hospital.
In some cases the caller has claimed a member of their household is in hospital, obviously causing distress.
In others the man, who speaks with a foreign accent, questioned residents about whether they or a member of their family had been in hospital in the past two years.
The hospital has been contacted by at least 15 people who have had the phone calls, possibly from a call centre.
A hospital spokeswoman said: "It seems that the first line is the typical cold call to elicit information and possibly sell insurance or no-win-no-fee solicitors.
"We have had fewer reports of the second line of questioning, which seems to be used to elicit information."
Anyone with concerns can contact the hospital on 730000.
