Charlie Gard: Staff receive death threats as police are called in Great Ormond Street Hospital

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) staff have received death threats over the case of terminally-ill Charlie Gard .

Staff, including doctors and nurses, have been bombarded by abuse in the street and received threatening messages in recent weeks.

GOSH chairwoman Mary MacLeod said the abuse has affected families visiting their loved ones and that while staff understand the strong feelings around the case, it is no excuse with what has happened at the hospital.

In a statement, she said: "We recognise the tireless advocacy of Charlie's loving parents and the natural sympathy people feel with his situation.

"However, in recent weeks the GOSH community has been subjected to a shocking and disgraceful tide of hostility and disturbance.

"Staff have received abuse both in the street and online.

"Thousands of abusive messages have been sent to doctors and nurses whose life's work is to care for sick children.

"Many of these messages are menacing, including death threats."

She continued: "Families have been harassed and discomforted while visiting their children, and we have received complaints of unacceptable behaviour even within the hospital itself.

"Whatever the strong emotions raised by this case, there can be no excuse for patients and families to have their privacy and peace disturbed as they deal with their own often very stressful situations or for dedicated doctors and nurses to suffer this kind of abuse.

"Great Ormond Street Hospital is in close contact with the Metropolitan Police and we will do everything possible to hold to account anybody involved in this kind of deplorable behaviour."

The 11-month-old boy, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, is currently the subject of an intense legal battle between his parents and medics over his treatment.

Parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates wants the judge to rule that their terminally-ill baby, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, should be allowed to undergo a therapy trial overseen by a specialist in New York.

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