Selfish thieves have reportedly stolen hand sanitiser from a cancer ward at an NHS hospital as the coronavirus crisis continues to worsen.
Heartless yobs are said to have ripped a gel dispenser off a wall at Northampton General Hospital, leaving patients at risk of being exposed to harmful viruses and bacteria.
Read more: Coronavirus crisis: Brits urged to stay at home even if they just have a cough
On Facebook, one paramedic hit out at the thieves as she urged people to stop stealing antibacterial gel.
Jayne Walters, who said the dispenser was stolen from a hygiene station located near a cancer ward at the hospital, said such incidents have sadly become “the reality of the situation”.
She wrote, as reported by Metro: “This is the reality of the situation! A gel dispenser has been ripped off the wall next to the cancer unit!
“Stop stealing alcohol gel! We really need it.”
A sign above where the dispenser was attached to the wall read: “Hand hygiene station. Visitors, patients, staff, all hands to the pump. Help protect our patients and yourself.”
Metro also quoted a spokesperson for Northampton General, who said the hospital had seen “a lot of hand sanitiser dispensers disappearing” from the ends of patients’ beds and welcome desks.
A gel dispenser has been ripped off the wall next to the cancer unit!
It comes amid reports of panic-buying sparked by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, which claimed its sixth victim in the UK on Tuesday (March 10).
Over the weekend, it was reported that Tesco was imposing a five-item limit on certain products in a bid to stop bulk-buying leading to mass shortages of essential goods.
Hand sanitiser was on the list, as were staples like baked beans and the children’s medicine Calpol.
Read more: Coronavirus crisis: Piers Morgan blasts Boris Johnson for ‘lack of action’ over deadly bug
The topic came up on ITV daytime show Lorraine earlier this week – and the presenter revealed she was forced to confront one panic-buyer who appeared to be purchasing much more than they needed.
Daytime TV host Lorraine Kelly told Dr Hilary Jones, during a segment on the outbreak that she clashed with a shopper at her local Tesco who was clearly “loading up with the bog roll”.
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