Nurse at Warwick Hospital speaks about being taken away from her patients after her car was vandalised during her shift

Lorigh Dumbleton was one of the many hospital staff that had their vehicles vandalised on Sunday evening (February 21).
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A nurse who was working at Warwick Hospital has spoken about how she was taken away from her patients after her car was vandalised during her shift.

Lorigh Dumbleton was one of the many hospital staff that had their vehicles vandalised on Sunday evening (February 21).

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Cars had windows smashed, bonnets dented and wing mirrors ripped off.

Lorigh Dumbleton was one of the many hospital staff that had their vehicles vandalised on Sunday evening (February 21). Photos by Lorigh DumbletonLorigh Dumbleton was one of the many hospital staff that had their vehicles vandalised on Sunday evening (February 21). Photos by Lorigh Dumbleton
Lorigh Dumbleton was one of the many hospital staff that had their vehicles vandalised on Sunday evening (February 21). Photos by Lorigh Dumbleton

Police said a 39-year-old man from Stratford was arrested and later charged with three counts of criminal damage. He is due to appear at Warwickshire Magistrates’ Court on March 23.

Lorigh, who has been working at the hospital as a bank member of staff since September, was parked down Millers Road.

She said: "At around 11pm I was notified that my car had been vandalised along with several others.

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"My back window was smashed a hole was left in the window with glass shattered inside and on the pavement.

"The police were called and arrested a man within the hour.

"I later had to make a statement along with witnesses and other victims.

"With help from other staff members I made my car safe and secure to drive home.

"I was taken off the shop floor for around two hours leaving my patients with nurses who had a workload of their own."

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Lorigh posted about the incident on Facebook and says she has been contacted by other people who have had their cars vandalised in the area.

She said: "I am aware that nurses and healthcare professionals cars are likely targets for vandalism.

"Since my post went viral I have had many messages from others staff members telling me how their car was vandalised.

"I was told that a midwife at Warwick had oil put on her windscreen wipers and she didn’t know until she was on the motorway using them and not being able to see the road ahead.

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"I still don’t understand why someone would purposely do this to other people's property never mind doing it to people that put others needs in-front of their own.

"The pandemic has really effected NHS staff mental health and this could of been somebodies last straw.

"Fortunately I’m in a good place at the moment with a great support network around me of family, friends and colleagues but for many this is not the case.

"I paid for my car to get fixed that morning at my local garage, I was working another night shift that night so it was important I got it fixed as soon as possible as it’s unfair to rely on people to take me to work when I am exposed to Covid every shift.

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"I sacrificed hours of sleep to organise my car being fixed and if anyone knows a nurse this is very big deal."

A spokesperson from the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is extremely disappointing that a small number of cars belonging to our staff have been damaged as a result of cars parked near our Warwick Hospital site being vandalised.

“Our organisation is currently offering staff free car parking in our staff car parks and would encourage members of staff, who cannot work from home, to park in these designated spaces.

"To improve future car parking facilities for staff and patients, our Trust has recently obtained planning permission to build a multi-storey car park on the site of one of our staff car parks (Pickering’s) on Millers Road.

"This development will not only provide more spaces but extra security for staff cars.”