An NHS nurse said she was "shocked and upset" after claiming she was refused a hot drink at a petrol station.
The 40-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said staff would not serve her a coffee because she was not emergency staff.
She said that workers at M&S Simply Food at a BP petrol station in Mickleover, Derbyshire, told her members of the public were not being served.
However, the nurse claimed she saw police officers and someone from a non-emergency ambulance being served with hot drinks, DerbyshireLive reports.
The phlebotomist and clinical support nurse, who works in the community and treats Covid-19 patients, said she was “shocked and upset” when she was told she could not have one on March 31.
After complaining to the M&S head office, she was told that all NHS staff were, in fact, entitled to have hot drinks.
But when she went back days later, she was once again told she could not have one.
The Derby woman said: “At first, the woman behind the counter went to make me a drink, then turned round and said ‘sorry, emergency staff only’.
“I took my purse in there and I wasn’t expecting anything for free.
“Myself and my colleague rang the M&S head office who said it was disgraceful and that they would inform staff that the rule was all NHS staff could get drinks.”
The woman said she didn’t go back for a few days out of worry that she would be humiliated again.
Then, on April 3, she returned to the petrol station because, she claims, one of her team members said she had been served a drink for free.
She said: “It took me a lot of courage to go back a second time as I wanted to know 100% it wouldn’t happen again.
“A young guy just said we only do it for 999 staff. I was shocked and said we’ve spoken to head office, but he point blank refused.
“I had been on the road for hours, to be spoken to like utter rubbish. We are already dragged down, so to be told no twice in one week is upsetting.
“I think people need to be aware of this vile attitude, it is soul destroying when work for us is very scary right now.
“It was horrible and humiliating, I went back to my car and cried. How could someone be so cruel? It was even more upsetting with everything that’s going on at the moment.”
She said she complained to both BP and M&S but said their response was “not good enough”.
A BP spokesperson said: “ At BP we endeavour to provide excellent customer service and we’re sorry that the customer in question had a poor experience on this visit.
“During this challenging time, BP is having to make adjustments to the operation of its petrol stations.
“Hot drinks are available for purchase from our staffed Wild Bean Cafés at a select number of our forecourts, in line with government guidelines, and we’re pleased to offer free regular sized hot beverages to 999 emergency services employees (Police, Ambulance and Fire).
“The exception is when there is limited team member availability on site, at which time the first priority is to oversee the safe operation of our fuel pumps."
Marks and Spencer did not wish to comment as they said the store is run by BP.
