Disgusted politicians brand Alwoodley Medical Centre anti-vaxxer graffiti as 'disgraceful' and 'nonsense beyond belief'

The Alwoodley Medical Centre was defaced with graffiti just days after being praised by Boris Johnson at a Downing Street coronavirus briefing for its resilience when staff and volunteers helped clear snow to keep the vaccine programme rolling.

The practice was defaced with red paint overnight on Sunday. The graffiti on the front of the building on Saxon Mount read "CV19 VACCINE DEATHS", whilst the number "666" was painted onto the entrance of the Living Care pharmacy attached to the centre.

--> Defiant Alwoodley Medical Centre defaced with anti-vaxxer graffiti just days after Boris Johnson praises practice

Alwoodley ward Councillor Dan Cohen said he is 'absolutely disgusted' by the 'nonsense' of the messages - and that it is 'beyond belief' that someone could do this.

Dan added: "Absolutely disgusted that anyone would graffiti any of our local buildings.

"That someone would graffiti, absolute nonsense anti-vaccine messages on a doctors surgery is beyond belief.

"On behalf of all the community, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the Alwoodley Medical Centre staff, for all they are doing both in rolling out vaccines so quickly and safely, while continuing their wider healthcare."

The Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds East, Fabian Hamilton, added that this "disgraceful vandalism has no place in our community" before praising the work from professionals at Alwoodley Medical Centre as being 'outstanding' and 'amazing'.

The MP said: "This disgraceful vandalism has no place in our community.

"The medical professionals at Alwoodley Medical Centre have done an outstanding job in delivering the vaccine to local residents - including shovelling snow so they can remain open. Their amazing work has undoubtedly saved countless lives and they do not deserve to be on the receiving end of this despicable act."

--> Volunteers clear snow from outside Alwoodley Medical Centre - allowing 1,200 Covid vaccinations to take place

GP Partner Martin Sutcliffe called out the 'upsetting' attack, adding that patients must feel safe at the centre.

Dealing with the graffiti attack meant that doctors who work at the surgery had to take 'significant time' away from patient care activity on Monday.

Dr Sutcliffe singled out examples of these activities as 'booking vaccines or dealing with suspected cancers'.

He also said that he 'assumes' 666 to be “the number of the devil” but he couldn't be sure.

Dr Sutcliffe added: "We understand that people are increasingly distressed by lockdown restrictions and that some have concerns about vaccination, but this criminal damage is not the way to express these concerns.

"Dealing with this takes significant time which takes us away from patient care activity - be that booking vaccines or dealing with suspected cancers.

"It is important that both our teams and our patients feel safe to attend the practice and acts such as this are upsetting and erode that feeling of safety.

"I truly hope that we do not see such actions again.”

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "We have taken a report of criminal damage at a property on Saxon Mount."

It comes after Boris Johnson singled the volunteers and the medical practice out for praise during his Downing Street coronavirus briefing last Wednesday evening.

The Prime Minister thanked a number of people such as doctors, nurses and local authorities for their efforts with the vaccine rollout, before he thanked "countless volunteers often working through the night".

He then added: "Or even digging out snowed-in vaccination centres like the community effort at Alwoodley Medical Centre in Leeds last Saturday so GPs, nurses and their teams could deliver 1,200 doses that day."