THE sight of people gathering for large-scale lockdown protests has been described as “shocking” and “disappointing” by NHS workers.

While Glasgow saw an anti-lockdown demonstration involving what looked to be hundreds of people on Saturday, there were what seemed to be many thousands of people marching in central London in protest at rules around mandatory mask use and vaccine passports.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned the scenes in Scotland's largest city, where three groups from Glasgow and Edinburgh marched to Glasgow Green to demonstrate against lockdown rules.

The demonstration in London saw people march down Oxford Street in the west of central London towards Hyde Park.

Dr Ajay Verma, a consultant gastroenterologist and physician working in Northamptonshire, told the PA news agency: “There is a small minority of people who seem to believe there’s a conspiracy going on, which is upsetting, and the worst thing is they’re putting themselves at risk by gathering in a crowd.

“They’re protesting against the measures they’re driving themselves by gathering in a crowd.

“It is very disappointing, I have to say.”

The National: Lockdown protester in London's Hyde Park holding up a sign against vaccine passports

Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon in Surrey, described the scenes as “shocking” – although he feels those involved represent a small minority of the population.

“I suspect it was a significant number of people who are anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists who got involved, and yet it’s shocking to see,” he told PA.

“Although we know the vaccination roll-out is going ahead nicely and we’re getting back to normal with restrictions easing, it’s still very worrying to see such huge gatherings without masks out in public, basically breaking the law, which is really concerning to see.

“And it’s just really disappointing as well.”

The protests came as India suffers its worst surge of the pandemic, with cases rising sharply, oxygen supplies dwindling and crematoriums overwhelmed because of the high number of deaths.

“There’s stark contrast with the scenes in India, which makes it even more unbelievable in my view,” Dr Jamie Parker, a GP from Nottingham, told PA.

The National: From left: Dr Ajay Verma, Dr Karan Rajan and Dr Jamie ParkerFrom left: Dr Ajay Verma, Dr Karan Rajan and Dr Jamie Parker

Dr Verma added: “There were times in January, and last April, where if the trends had continued as they were we would have seen what we’re seeing in India now – a breakdown of the health service.

“People don’t seem to realise, we were days, not weeks, days, to the brink.”

Dr Parker said it was vital that people continue to stick to social distancing rules while the vaccine programme continues to be rolled out.

“I know it’s been really difficult for the country,” he said.

“So many people have given up so much throughout the lockdowns and we know that lockdowns have their drawbacks, but throughout all they are really the only thing that have had worked before the vaccines, it’s the one thing that has brought down numbers and has saved lives.”

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon condemns 'upsetting' anti-lockdown protest in Scotland

All three doctors said they respected the right to protest, but Dr Rajan said that demonstrations can become an issue if they start to intimidate those who are adhering to guidelines.

“In this country, we believe in autonomy when it comes to medicine so everyone has the right to make a decision over what goes in their body,” he said.

“If someone doesn’t want the vaccine that is their decision at the end of the day, as long as they’re fully educated.

“But it’s important to ensure they don’t encroach upon anyone else’s right to decide, or right to feel safe.

“And a member of the public won’t feel safe if they see 1000 people who don’t believe in masks or vaccines wandering the streets.

“You can not take the vaccine, that’s fine, that’s up to the individual, but we need to make sure that other people who want to feel safe, are safe, when the restrictions are easing.”