The general public is becoming increasingly worried about COVID-19.
Reporting are emerging of nursing staff and other healthcare professionals being verbally and physically abused for ‘spreading Coronavirus’.
It comes as the general public becomes increasingly concern over the spread of Coronavirus.
Senior nursing leaders have condemned their actions as “abhorrent” and calling for people to be kind.
Susan Masters, National Director of Nursing Policy and Practice at the Royal College of Nursing, said; “I am speaking up for nurses and nursing in every possible setting.
“Today I hear from community nurses that they are being heckled at and verbally abused in the street and called “disease spreaders“.
“This is abhorrent behaviour it must stop.”
One nurse posted a video on social media after a couple physically and verbally abused her. She claims that on her way to a night shift at the hospital they “elbowed my rib, intentionally pushing me to the side, the female partner then shouted racial abuse”.
Hatred and fear.
In a statement, she added; “Doctors, Nurses and healthcare workers are literally risking their lives on the frontline with limited resources and yet some people feel the need to impose more hatred and fear.
“I dare anyone who doesn’t work in the healthcare environment to come and observe just ONE day in the hospital and watch healthcare workers literally struggle to deal with immense pressures that come with staff shortages and lack of resources topped off with fear and panic in the environment.”
Ruth May, England’s Chief Nursing Officer, has also raised the issue.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Ms May said: “I’ve seen all over Twitter some of our nurses and midwives and care staff being spat at and being abused by member of the public.
“Please be very kind to your nurses and midwives because you may need them very soon.”
Sarah-Jane Marsh, CEO of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, also said that “nurses have been evicted from shared accommodation because people don’t want to live with them right now.”
Anecdotal reports of further incidents have started to appear on social media.
