AN outraged paramedic has slammed Iceland for treating NHS staff like "lepers" as the supermarket said items that are touched must be bought.

The supermarket claimed on its website that the measure was to protect its staff and to reduce the risk of contamination.

An outraged paramedic has slammed Iceland for treating NHS staff like "lepers" Credit: AFP or licensors

Iceland allows NHS staff and key workers to shop for the final hour of trade by showing their ID.

It then cleans the stores afterwards to help keep staff safe from the deadly bug, the supermarket added.

Although the statements have now been deleted, they led to outrage among healthcare workers, who slammed the supermarket on Facebook.

UK Paramedic Humour posted a picture of the Iceland statement, and wrote: "Thanks for implying healthcare professionals are dirty, unclean people.

"Thanks for making us out to be lepers.

"If anything, Iceland - healthcare professionals are MORE likely to adhere to IPC guidelines by rigorous hand washing (for proof, just feel how rough our hands are)."

The post added: "At this horrid time, don't make us feel bad.

"Not when we have colleagues losing their homes because their bigoted landlords don't want a dirty paramedic living in their homes!

"Your 'policy' is damaging to the morale of these heroes!!"

The post has since gone viral by racking up more than 2,400 likes and 1,700 shares on Facebook.

The Iceland statement said: "If NHS workers touch products they have to buy them, they can't put them back"

One user commented: "How is this a thing? Surely Iceland must realise that, as the 'professionals', we're actually the ones that understand how to remain sanitary?"

And another added: "My NHS hour will be spent shopping elsewhere to Iceland, because I heard only mums go to Iceland, so this means NHS staff must have to go elsewhere!"

But a third agreed with the deep cleaning measures and said: "I work with COVID-19 patients, and despite PHE Guidelines the PPE isn’t adequate.

"So I could be a carrier, and I think it makes sense to deep clean after this hour."

After The Sun contacted Iceland for comment this morning, the statement was deleted on its site but it can still be seen on archive websites.

A spokesperson told The Sun: "This was an error and should not have been posted on our website.

"We sincerely apologise for the offence this has clearly caused, and have immediately withdrawn this guidance.

"We are deeply grateful to the NHS and all key workers for everything they are doing to keep the country running."

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As of today, Morrisons is giving NHS staff 10 per cent off groceries to say thanks for their hard work during the coronavirus crisis.

It comes after B&M extended its 10 per cent staff discount to NHS workers for the same reason.

We've rounded up NHS timings and discounts at the UK's supermarkets.