Nurse wept in her car as she realised it was vandalised while she worked 12 hour shift at Doncaster hospital

A Doncaster nurse has told how she wept in her car as she discovered it had been vandalised in the hospital grounds while she worked a 12 hour shift.
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Rachel Carmody had just finished work at Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s orthopedics ward at 7.30am when she returned to her car. She did not notice the damage when she first got in.

The 31-year-old said: “It was still dark. It was raining and I was absolutely shattered after my shift, so I just got into the car as quickly as possible,'

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“There were worries about floods in Doncaster so the first thing I did was hit my phone to check my family were alright - I hadn't heard from them since I'd started work.

Rachel Carmody in personal protective equipment during a shiftRachel Carmody in personal protective equipment during a shift
Rachel Carmody in personal protective equipment during a shift
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“I noticed that I was really cold and saw there was rain on the front passenger seat. I was terrified - the first thing I thought was that there was someone in the back seat. I was so scared I just froze.

“When I did very slowly turn round and saw the damage I just burst into tears straight away. It was awful - I sat in the car for 10 minutes just crying and crying. After that I was so exhausted and upset and angry I just wanted to go to bed.”

The rear passenger window had been smashed and the back passenger door was damaged.

Damage to Rachel Carmody's carDamage to Rachel Carmody's car
Damage to Rachel Carmody's car
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She said some of her colleagues were now arranging to be picked up after work by family in case their cars were damaged.

She said she could not understand why anyone would have damaged her car.

She said: “It was in a staff car park so they must have known it was a staff car. Don't they know how hard we've been working recently? We're all just scared and we want to stay safe.”

Recently, shocked patient, Dawn Mulholland, aged 56, told how she left her car for 10 minutes in one of the hospital car parks while she went inside to attend what she thought was an appoinment at the hospital, and returned to find thieves had stolen its catalytic converter while she had been away.

Rachel CarmodyRachel Carmody
Rachel Carmody

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