NHS worker thrown out of Sheffield Lidl store

Debbie Armitage, a support worker at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, was at the Lidl store in Castlebeck on Thursday when she noticed a woman wearing scrubs. Debbie is the infection control link for her hospital ward and knows the rules around wearing medical clothing, especially outside of care settings, are strict.

When Debbie spoke to the woman, who was wearing a Children’s Hospital lanyard, she said she worked at a care home and had just finished a 12-hour shift.

Debbie, from Gleadless, said: “I said to the security man she shouldn’t be going in with her scrubs on. He said to me she’s a hero.

“I said to the lady do you realise you are not supposed to go walking around with those clothes on.”

Debbie was then approached by the store’s security guard.

She said: “The guard said I had a problem with the lady, but I was just explaining to her.

“He got a bit aggressive and was bouncing on his toes.”

Debbie admitted she then lost her temper and swore at him before being told to leave.

She said: “It’s no good everyone standing two metres apart if he’s letting someone in with their work clothes on. She’s not a hero, she’s spreading Covid.

“They wouldn’t listen to me, I couldn’t do my shopping.”

Debbie added: “I was shocked. The security guard had a lot of aggression and was sticking out his chest.

“The woman was saying she didn’t realise she shouldn’t be wearing them, she wasn’t offended. I don’t want people to think she works at the Children’s Hospital and that's how we operate.”

A spokesperson for Lidl said: “It is never our intention for a customer to be dissatisfied in any way, however our teams have an obligation to maintain a safe and supportive shopping environment, and will not condone or tolerate any form of abuse towards colleagues or customers.

“During these particularly challenging times we ask that everyone continues to show consideration and kindness to our store teams who are working extremely hard to support their communities.”