Shock as 9 hospital staff ’s tyres slashed

NHS workers finish night shift to find they can’t drive home:

NINE NHS workers had their car tyres slashed while working night shifts at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

The workers parked their cars along Musgrove Road near the hospital and came back after finishing their shifts to find their tyres slashed.

It is believed to have happened overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Avon and Somerset Police said: “While only two people have reported the damage directly to the police as yet, neighbourhood officers believe more vehicles have been damaged.

“Officers from the neighbourhood team are investigating, including making house-to-house inquiries, and ask anyone with information, dashcam, CCTV or smart doorbell footage which could help to call 101.

“If you know who was responsible, you can pass information on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never tell the police who you are, just what you know.”

A fundraiser has since been set up by Leonie Mills, a worker at Musgrove Park Hospital, who aims to reimburse the cost of new tyres for those affected.

She said: “I saw the post go up regarding nine members of staff having their tyres damaged. Everyone knows the staff park there and it felt to be like a deliberate attack.

“I couldn’t sit back and do nothing; these are my colleagues and in normal circumstances they work so hard, but during these unprecedented times, they are working even harder.

“No-one deserves to work a 12-13 hour shift to find their cars damaged and have to hang around in freezing conditions and find the money to fix their cars to enable them to go home and sleep.

“So I felt as a community we needed to support our heroes. I have found most of the nine affected and have liaised with them to reimburse the money they had to spend to fix their cars. We are a little short of target but we will get there.

“Two local businesses have also helped; one reimbursed one member of staff and one has offered to fix the tyres for free. Any leftover funds will be donated to Love Musgrove.”

As of last night, the fundraiser has raised £890 of the £1,000 target.

The fundraiser page can be found by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/leonie-mills-1?utm_term=QV7gEdKZR