A television commercial for the NHS terrifies children by showing Santa Claus wheeled into hospital on the verge of dying from COVID.

Because frightening kids is definitely what the good guys do.

The advert “celebrates NHS staff and volunteers” by showing them nursing Father Christmas back to full health so he can deliver presents.

Entitled The Gift, the ad shows paramedics giving Santa oxygen as he looks to be at death’s door while being transported to a medical ward as one nurse asks, “Is he responding?”

The commercial then cuts to Santa waking up before he is slowly rehabilitated and subsequently receives a get well soon card from Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

After passing some children, Santa is then seen responding to letters from hopeful kids.

The commercial is backed by a soppy soundtrack throughout.

Respondents to the video didn’t find it heartwarming at all.

“Disgusting video and one any children should not be seeing. Totally politicising COVID with Santa. What were you thinking. Complained to Ofcom already,” said one.

“If anyone thinks that this ad is either clever or funny or poignant they are sadly deluded,” said another.

“Should have shown the reality: A nurse passing the infection to a patient, discharging a Covid POS patient to a care home,” commented another.