Scottish care workers claim they have been left feeling 'undervalued' after being turned away from supermarkets during prioritised shopping hours.
Carers, some of whom are working long shifts, are not included in priority hours set aside exclusively for NHS workers during the coronavirus lockdown.
Several supermarket chains introduced dedicated times for NHS staff to shop after stockpilers stripped the shelves, making buying essentials items difficult.
NHS workers have to show a valid form of ID card to gain entry.
Rae Murphy, 60, who runs Dalmellington Care Centre, says members of her team were turned away from Morrisons when they queued up to shop during priority hours.
She said: "We can't get into the supermarkets whenever we try we are told it is NHS staff only.
"We had visited a Morrisons branch in Ayr and we were told they couldn't let us in.
"I have staff doing double shifts and need to self isolate because of the people we work with, but can’t even get a loaf of bread.
“It just adds stress to an already stressful job, we are thinking during work where am I going to get a pink of milk, a loaf of bread, or put cereal on the table for my children.
She claims staff with young families ‘can’t even put cereal on the table’ for their kids after finishing a 12 hour shift.
Rae continued: “How are we meant to when the shelves are totally bare by the time we get near them?
“My staff have young families and elderly relatives they are responsible for.
"We shouldn't have to worry about how we are going to eat as well.
“At the end of the day we are the unsung heroes, we feel totally undervalued by the big supermarkets.
“We are a skilled work force and deserve to be able to pick up some things after a long shift.
Ann, who works at a care home in Fife said she was turned away from a Morrisons branch in St Andrews during NHS staff shopping hours.
She said: "We went over to Morrisons and were told they couldn't let us in. They needed NHS cards to get in the early hours.
“We were just totally refused access and told it was for NHS staff only.
“But the way I see it we are all doing the same job, trying to protect vulnerable people from the virus.
“I just don’t quite get it.
Ann, praised her local shops for helping carers purchase essential items between shifts.
She continued: "Our local shop is great, they are open between 6am-7am and we can get what we need.
"Our local bakers and shops in Anstruther are great too."
"They put aside bread or anything carers or nurses need so we don’t go without.”
Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care said: "Social care staff working in care homes, home care and housing support are in the front line in the national fight against coronavirus.
"It is a matter of dismay that many of our large supermarkets are turning care and hospice staff away during their projected shopping hours.
"Acute NHS staff are the first to recognise that we are all working as one team in this effort - why cannot our retailers do the same?
"Tens of thousands of women and men are working long exhausting hours caring for some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens - they cannot do so on empty stomachs.
"I am calling on our supermarkets to urgently open their doors to the critical front line social carers who are keeping our country going at this time."
The Scottish Government are now working on relieving pressure from care workers during the pandemic.
Councils have been asked to increase support for care at home, nursing homes and care homes to reduce delayed discharges and free up hospital beds.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We have placed the NHS on an emergency footing and we also need to increase the capacity in our social care sector.
“Extensive work is already underway by health and social care partnerships to free up hospital beds and care for older people, and others in need of support, in care homes and in our communities."
The Daily Record reached out to Morrisons for comment.
