Shops are closing. Newspaper sales are falling. But we’ve chosen to keep our coverage of the Coronavirus crisis free because it’s so important that the people of Glasgow stay informed during this difficult time.

To help us get through this, we’re asking readers who can afford it to contribute either £3, £5 or £8 a month to the Glasgow Times.

If you choose to sign up, we’ll also take away all the adverts – and deliver a digital version of the print paper to your device. Click here to help Save Your Times

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HEATH workers delivering "exceptional 24/7 care" to the most vulnerable people in their own home are suffering abuse during call-outs, it has emerged.

NHS Lanarkshire said "a number of health and social care staff" had been verbally abused in the community and said incidents were being taken "very seriously."

It is understood the shocking abuse included staff being told: "You are to blame for the spread."

It comes after Susan Masters, director of nursing, policy and practice at the Royal College of Nursing, revealed on social media that community nurses were being "heckled" by members of the public worried about Covid-19.

She said some staff had been labelled "disease spreaders" while on call outs.

READ MORE: First Minister confirms plan to use SEC as temporary hospital with 1000 beds

Ross McGuffie, chief officer of Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership said: “We have a range of measures to protect our staff, however in recent days we have unfortunately seen incidents where our staff have been verbally abused in the community.

“Make no mistake; our staff are providing vital support to some of our must vulnerable residents.

READ MORE: 'Healthy' grandad dies three days after coronavirus diagnosis 

“We’re committed to deterring such incidents and ensuring staff are trained to deal with situations when they do arise.

"We take any acts of physical or verbal abuse very seriously. 

"Where staff are abused while working, whether in the community or in our hospitals, we absolutely encourage them to report any abuse in line with our policies.”