DOG MESS has been smeared on the cars of hospital workers, it has been claimed.

Staff have allegedly been targeted when they park on residential streets around Dorset County Hospital during their shifts.

It has also been claimed that staff have been “bumped and barged” and have had abuse shouted at them by residents in Dorchester.

Hospital parking and the use of residential spaces around the hospital has long been an issue.

Staff working at the hospital are required to pay to park there, as are patients.

But now the hospital claims that staff have been targeted by angry residents.

Speaking at a meeting of the hospital’s Council of Governors, head of facilities, Tony James, claimed that several staff have been victims of abuse.

He said: “We’ve had dog mess smeared on car door handles, we’ve had staff bumped and barged and we’ve had abuse shouted from windows.”

Last year, the hospital set up a dedicated group to look at transport issues, increasing parking charges and has been looking to develop park and ride schemes.

Dorset County Council has been introducing parking restrictions, stopping people from parking on some residential roads near the hospital during the day to stop staff parking outside people’s houses.

DCH told the Echo that over the past year or so two members of staff have said that they have found dog mess under the handles of car doors and were advised to report it to the police.

The hospital said that there has been numerous reports of staff being shouted at by residents and pushed and shoved as they leave their cars as well as abusive notes being left.

A spokesman for Dorset County Hospital said: “We do encourage our staff to park responsibly if they are parking in nearby residential streets. We ask them to be mindful of local residents and to avoid blocking driveways. We appreciate that parking on the hospital site is an ongoing issue and we have a dedicated group of staff and patient representatives reviewing the issues and working on ways to relieve the problem.”

The hospital encourages staff who live nearby to walk to work or use public transport if possible.

Earlier this year, Dorset County Council approved plans for waiting restrictions on several roads in Dorchester to try and improve the parking and traffic situation.

The park and ride scheme in the county town is also set to cease at the end of July, the service has helped ease congestion and parking issues.