A medical and dental clinic in St. George?s is being targeted by a gang who are threatening and abusing the nurses, a patient said yesterday.

Ann Williams said she felt disgusted and upset by the pile of broken glass, rubbish and food which had been left near the clinic?s front door.

?It was upsetting to feel the thugs who did this do not appreciate the fact they have free clinic in the area,? Ms Williams said.

She said she could not believe the young men, who are known to hang out on Old Military Road, would vent their frustrations by damaging a public building.

?I spoke to the nurses who said the whole department was upset about it,? she said. ?They are concerned for their own welfare.?

Ms Williams said there are many children in St. George?s who use the clinic.

?It would be really horrible for us not to have one,? she said. When visited the clinic yesterday, the door was locked, with the nurses inside. They declined to be interviewed because they were afraid of retaliation by the gang.

The sign adorning the entrance had been vandalised with a hammer or lighter. Ms Williams said a confrontation took place on Thursday between some of the young men and two nurses. ?The young men were very rude and disrespectful and cursed them out,? she said. ?I am very upset. I have been going there a long time and for someone to do that is beyond any reason.?

The broken bottles in the parking lot made it difficult for people to park, she said.

Ms Williams, who lives in St. David?s, has been using the clinic for 30 years.

A Government spokesperson last night urged the community ?to respect the premises and do all it can to urge others to respect the facility.?

The facility offers free or low-cost medical and dental services and operates as a satellite clinic from one located in Hamilton.

Police said they were aware of the problem and planned to step up surveillance of the clinic.

?It?s getting out of hand,? the a Policeman said.

?They have no respect for the children. Something must be done, so they know they are not in charge.?