Doctors and nurses treating terminally ill baby Charlie Gard at Great Ormond Street Hospital have received "menacing" death threats along with thousands of abusive messages.

In a statement, the hospital said police had been called to investigate the “shocking” threats and “unacceptable” harassment of staff – which has included abuse in the street as well as online messages.

Mary MacLeod, chairman of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said that while she appreciated feelings around the ongoing court battle between medical staff and Charlie’s parents were running high, nothing could justify the abuse.

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“Charlie Gard's case is a heart-breaking one. We fully understand that there is intense public interest, and that emotions run high," she added.

“We recognise the tireless advocacy of Charlie's loving parents and the natural sympathy people feel with his situation.

“However, in recent weeks the GOSH community has been subjected to a shocking and disgraceful tide of hostility and disturbance.

“Staff have received abuse both in the street and online. Thousands of abusive messages have been sent to doctors and nurses whose life's work is to care for sick children. Many of these messages are menacing, including death threats.”

Charlie’s parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, are battling with the hospital for the right to take their desperately sick little boy to the US for pioneering treatment, which the hospital opposes because they believe it will only prolong his suffering.

Charlie was born with a rare genetic disorder, a form of mitochondrial disease, which causes progressive muscle wasting and brain damage.

His parents have lost a succession of high profile court cases to overturn GOSH’s decision that it is in the best interests of the child to turn off his life support machine.

(EPA (EPA)

The hospital's statement added that other parents and family members visiting sick children in the hospital had been affected by the intimidation.

Ms MacLeod said: “Families have been harassed and discomforted while visiting their children, and we have received complaints of unacceptable behaviour even within the hospital itself.

“Whatever the strong emotions raised by this case, there can be no excuse for patients and families to have their privacy and peace disturbed as they deal with their own often very stressful situations or for dedicated doctors and nurses to suffer this kind of abuse.”

She added that the hospital was in close contact with the Metropolitan Police and that: “We will do everything possible to hold to account anybody who involved in this kind of deplorable behaviour.”

Charlie's parents said in a statement: "We don't condone abusive or threatening behaviour to GOSH staff or anybody in connection with our son.

“We, too, get abuse and have to endure nasty and hurtful remarks on a daily basis.

”People have different opinions and we accept that, but there is a line that shouldn't be crossed as it makes a stressful situation worse and is very upsetting for all involved."

Keir Starmer, the constituency MP for the hospital, said: "The staff at the hospital work tirelessly and with total dedication. Charlie Gard's case is truly tragic and the whole nation sympathises with his parents. It is understandable that people feel very strongly about the case.

"But the abuse of staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital outside the hospital and online is totally unacceptable. There is no place for this abuse and it has to stop."

Pro-lifers in this country and the US have taken up the case of Charlie while his parents continue their High Court battle, where a judge has been hearing evidence about the potential of the experimental treatment.