NHS Fife bosses have been accused of “belittling” and “beating down” their frontline heroes after it emerged that a small space for junior doctors to relax in during breaks at the Victoria Hospital had been closed.

A notice stuck to the door of the break room known as the doctors' mess was posted on Twitter and drew criticism from staff. It read: “Professor (blank) has temporarily closed the mess due to lack of confidence that trainee doctors are following rules on social distancing whilst using the mess.”

A man who wished to remain anonymous told the Press: "The doctors' mess at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy is a small space for all the junior doctors (basically any qualified doctor who is not a consultant) to relax in on break. It was small pre-COVID and larger spaces have not been provided to accommodate social distancing.

“Instead, NHS Fife management have closed the mess leaving doctors nowhere to rest, or get changed in and out of scrubs before and after shifts. As a result, doctors have been left with no option but to change in random toilets around the hospitals. Despite all the support from the public, skilled professional adults who risk their lives to help the people of Fife are being treated horribly by the very people who are meant to look after their welfare and training.

“This is unacceptable behaviour, further belittling and beating down an already overworked and stressed work force. This is not the first time that junior doctors have voiced concerns about the Victoria Hospital.”

NHS Fife said the safety of staff and patients was their top priority and they were working with staff to establish hubs that they can relax in.

Medical director, Dr Christopher McKenna, added: “The junior doctors' mess is a small area and was temporarily closed last week to allow for enhanced social distancing measures to be put in place and enable trainee medical staff to take rest breaks in an appropriate environment.

“Healthcare staff across Fife continue to work extremely hard, as they have done for many months, to provide patients with the best possible care in very challenging circumstances.

“We are working to support staff in any way we can, including the establishment of staff support hubs across Fife to enable all staff to relax and recuperate during scheduled breaks."

On staff changing arrangements, Dr McKenna said: “There are a number of physically-distanced changing areas within the Victoria Hospital to enable all staff who are required to change to do so safely.”