To be suspicious of this patient?

[Babycarrottt]

I'm currently in hospital awaiting an emergency operation to remove my gallbladder. I've been in since Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, this patient came in. She was hysterical and initially being abusive to staff constantly asking for very strong opiates and arguing with them when they wouldn't give her the ones she wanted. Yesterday, she was literally following the nurses around. Her behaviour seems odd to say the least.

She's been in conversation with some of the older women on the ward and they've been talking. She's asked the other women about their homes, livelihoods etc. As they've been in here quite a while, they have been rather chatty.
One was telling them about her home to which this women said "it sounds idyllic","if you ever want a paying house guest". She's now in a state crying stating that her family have taken all of her money from her and how she has no money until the end of the month. She's currently having a very loud conversation with her "sister" although I can't hear anyone on the end of the line. The older women are being very sympathetic but I'm genuinely concerned that she's creating a ruse in order to get money out of these women. She's claiming that her family have taken her money to buy her paint and carpets. She's also telling her sister how she's always "paid back anyone who lent me money in full".
The nurse heard her and told her to call the Police if she'd had money taken from her. She was quiet until the nurse left and then she started up again.

AIBU to think that this she is trying to scam potentially vulnerable women?

She sounds ill on several levels and also a massive pain in the arse. Hope your op goes well and you get to recover in peace.

Firstly, of course I wouldn't call the Police. It's ludicrous to even think so.
Secondly, thank you for all of the kind wishes. Unfortunately, my op won't be taking place until "at least Monday" as they're concerned about my pancreatitis. They don't want to risk the inflammation spreading to other organs. The consultant told me that I don't realise how sick I am. I don't feel that bad, I'm just in pain. They also weighed me again earlier and I've lost ten pounds since Tuesday. I think their scales must be wrong because I don't think that's possible.
On a really positive note, my partner is bringing our baby up to see me later. I can't wait to see him. I definitely will be locking my belongings up if she's still here when I go. I'm sure she does have issues and I have sympathy for her but that stops when people use issues to prey on others.

If she can't be reasonably managed on a bay she needs to be in a side room with enhanced nursing for the sake of everyone else's well being. Also the nursing staff should not be discussing any aspect of her circumstances with any patient. It's so unacceptable on a number of levels.

Thank you for looking out for other patients. As a teen I was rushed in for emergency surgery from my hostel and ended up giving a woman on my ward the last of my money after her sob stories and promises to pay it back. Of course she never did. I don't regret it and I'm happy it happened to me instead of the elderly patients on the ward but it definitely stung as I had basically nothing at the time.

I hope she doesn't start trying to steal stuff from patient's bedside lockers.

Hi everyone. Thankfully, she was discharged today and I think we can all breath a sigh of relief. A new patient came in last night so she was following them around rather than the first patient. She was also demanding diazepam and other opiates. For someone who was screaming about the amount of pain she was in, she was able to be fully mobile without any visible issues (this included her going to the shop throughout the day). I'm glad she's gone because she was peeing me off. I couldn't walk without assistance when I came in on Tuesday and it's difficult now. I know she must have issues but I have little sympathy for those that target the vulnerable. Good riddance.