Community nurses have been subject to abuse from the public while going about their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
People have hurled abuse at NHS staff for wearing uniforms in public, claiming they are creating an infection risk.
NHS bosses in Fife said many healthcare workers who require to wear uniform on duty had reported being victims and that physical or verbal abuse of staff was unacceptable.
It is thought the attacks stem from confusion, with community nurses wearing the same uniforms as those in hospitals, which should not be worn outside the workplace.
A social media campaign is planned to explain the duties of community nurses, which can include visiting shops or pharmacies for vulnerable patients.
NHS Fife director of nursing Helen Buchanan said: “We have received numerous reports that our nurses, particularly those working in the community, have been on the receiving end of abuse in their normal line of duty.
“The source of this abuse is likely to emanate from a misunderstanding around their uniforms, which are NHS Scotland standard issue and identical to the uniforms worn by nurses working in our acute hospital.
“For infection control reasons, our acute hospital nursing staff are subject to strict requirements around their uniforms and not permitted to wear them out with the acute hospital environment.
“Community nursing staff are not subject to the same infection control measures as their duties are very different and, as such, are required to wear their uniforms in the line of duty.
“The duties carried out by a community nurse may include going to the local supermarket or pharmacy for patients at this challenging time, some of whom are vulnerable and having to self-isolate, and this is likely why you will see them out and about.
“All of our nurses are very well versed in infection control precautions and it is extremely rare that you would see a nurse from our acute hospital in uniform outside of that setting.”
NHS Tayside said it was not aware of similar issues.
Earlier in the lockdown period, it posted information on social media explaining that district and community nurses would be working in uniform in usual in their “wards without walls”.
Abuse on the rise
News about the abuse of key workers comes just a day after The Courier told how reports of racial abuse and vandalism – particularly involving ethnic minorities – appears to be on the rise.
The Fife Centre for Equalties (FCE) has urged all key workers of all backgrounds who experience such challenges to report incidents or worries.
The centre has shared three shocking cases which have come to light in recent weeks as frustrations around the coronavirus lockdown grow in communities.
In one case, a social care worker and her daughter were both shoved to the floor while queuing in a store in Kirkcaldy by a man who overheard them talking about care work.
The person who attacked said key workers were “getting too many privileges”.
He was escorted out that day but attacked another keyworker the next day and then police got involved.
Meanwhile, in another Fife case, a female retail assistant was shouted at by a shopper when the person wanted more bread and pasta than was allowed.
This was when restrictions were in place and already being followed by most shoppers.
In a third anecdote, the FCE revealed how a minority ethnic shopkeeper suffered serious and significant verbal abuse for trying to enforce social distancing rules in the early weeks of lockdown.
As a result, he decided to close his shop instead of risking similar episode.
Anyone who suffers abuse, or who has any concerns about the situation, can contact
https://bit.ly/FCEHateIncidentsReport
.
