NHS workers who were treating patients on the front line amid the coronavirus pandemic have had their cars vandalised.

Dr Alec Watson, who triages people suspected of having Covid-19 over the phone at King’s Cross Hospital, Dundee, was alerted to damage to his vehicle at around 10.45am yesterday (Sunday 22 March).

He found the front passenger window of his Volvo V40 had been completely smashed, leaving glass strewn across the centre’s car park.

Another car, understood to be a senior nurse’s, was also vandalised at around the same time.

Dr Watson – who has been working extra hours to help with the crisis – branded the culprit’s actions ‘appalling’ and said he will now have to take a taxi to work while the repairs are fixed.

He said: “We are hugely busy at the moment with coronavirus and this is the last thing we need. I’m semi-retired but have been working more to help ease the pressure.

“The passenger window was completely smashed, although nothing was taken as I don’t keep valuables in the car.

“I was taken out of my busy work for an hour to speak to the police. It’s appalling that someone has done this, especially during this time.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed officers are following a number of lines of investigation.

He said: “Officers were made aware of two vehicles which were broken into in the area around Kings Cross Hospital around 10.20am on Sunday March 22.

“Inquiries are ongoing and officers are following a number of lines of investigation.”

Meanwhile, nurse Hollie Coates finished her shift in the A+E department at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, to find her window smashed in too.

She shared a picture of the damage in a post on Facebook which read: “So after finishing a shift at James Cook I’ve come out to my back window being smashed in. Just wanting to warn all staff to be careful where they are parking.

“This is particularly upsetting at a time when we are all working above and beyond and doing extra shifts during annual leave to pull together to fight this nasty and life threatening virus.”

Mercifully, if the above has made your faith in humanity well and truly slip away, Hollie has had some good news since.

Mick Belford, who works for Kwikscreens in Sunderland, has repaired her windscreen completely free of charge, meaning she’ll be able to get back to her vital work without delay.

Now that’s the proper way to treat our invaluable NHS workers.