Hospital staff complain of barrage of abuse

ALDER Hey hospital staff and patients have been subjected to a barrage of abuse over Alfie Evans, its bosses revealed.

In a powerful open letter, health chiefs said the world-renowned hospital in Liverpool had found itself at the centre of a ‘social media storm.’ Many of their staff had been on the receiving end of ‘highly abusive and threatening language and behaviour’ in person, via phone calls, emails and on Facebook and Twitter.

Police officers have been stationed at the hospital for several days and on Monday intervened to stop a mob of ‘Alfie’s army’ supporters storming the entrance.

Sources also revealed that staff had received phone calls from people accusing them of being ‘murderers’ and ‘killers.’ Chairman Sir David Henshaw and chief executive Louise Shepherd said everyone at the hospital had been ‘deeply affected’ by Alfie’s plight and that it was wrong that the professionalism, motivation and ethics of those caring for the toddler had been questioned.

Merseyside Police warned that malicious and intimidating posts would be acted upon. Abuse has also been thrown at High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden, who in February ruled life support for Alfie could be withdrawn. Lord Burnett, the Lord Chief Justice, yesterday warned online trolls who abuse judges could be jailed under contempt laws.