‘Just stop it!’: Nurse unable to buy food after shift makes emotional plea for public to stop panic-buying

‘It’s people like me that are going to be looking after you when you’re at your lowest so just stop it. Please’

A critical-care nurse burst into tears when she could not buy any food after a shift because stockpilers had stripped supermarket shelves bare.

Dawn Bilbrough recorded an emotional plea to shoppers to stop buying more than they needed during the coronavirus outbreak.

She said she didn’t know how she was supposed to stay healthy to be able to care for patients when there was no fruit, veg or basic foods available.

“You just need to stop it,” she said, “because it’s people like me that are going to be looking after you when you’re at your lowest so just stop it. Please.”

Her recording was viewed by millions of people after being shared by BBC Yorkshire.

The NHS nurse had said after two days’ work she just wanted to get some food in for the coming 48 hours.

Many people made offers of help in response, and BBC Yorkshire later reported that Dawn had been overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness following her pleas.

“She now has food and is OK. Thank you for all your calls, comments and messages of support,” it tweeted.

Widespread panic-buying has left shelves empty and supermarkets scrambling to restock.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said the video showed the impact of behaving irresponsibly and the government was ​prepared to take action if needed.

“I stand with Dawn. I think she’s put it better than anybody else could,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today.

“It’s vital that people act responsibly to follow the advice to stop spreading the virus and responsibly in terms of what people need.”

He added: “By taking more than you need from the supermarket, you are harming the chances of other people, whether they are vulnerable or older who really need to stay away from the supermarket.”

He said he had seen the video, and “my heart bleeds for her and everybody else in the same situation. That shows the impact of behaving irresponsibly and we’re quite ​prepared to take action if we need to but it would be far better if we didn’t.”

The government has relaxed competition restrictions on supermarkets to allow them to keep supplying stores.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “Our message to everyone has been clear, that they should be considerate in the way they shop. There’s plenty of stock available, but if people buy more than they need others will be left without.”