NHS hospitals across London have banned Palestine flags following complaints from Jewish patients that the symbol was “upsetting and intimidating”.
The ban will apply to the five hospitals in the Barts Heath NHS Trust - St Bart’s, Mile End, Newham, Royal London and Whipps Cross.
The decision came after UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) brought forward the case of a Jewish patient who attended Whipps Cross for a caesarean, and saw three staff members wearing pro-Palestine symbols in the span of 24 hours.
The woman said: “The display of these symbols made me feel extremely vulnerable, particularly given the level of anti-Semitic activity we’re all witnessing via the extreme elements of online activity and at the UK-wide marches.”
She explained that she felt “panicked” while waiting for surgery, and was afraid her care could be jeopardised by someone who didn’t like Jewish people or Israel.
The woman added: “I understand the strength of feeling from those deeply concerned about the conflict. However, I do not see that it is reasonable to have political views on display in the workplace, particularly when dealing with patients at their most vulnerable and when the conflict and the symbolism surrounding it are so deeply complex.”
She said she would have also found it inappropriate if a staff member had an Israeli flag on their lanyard.
“One of the staff wearing a Palestinian flag was responsible for checking my baby’s eyesight when he was under one day old – so at a time when I should have been recuperating and receiving the highest quality support and care, I was instead feeling panicked about the interaction,” she said.
MORE LIKE THIS:
“If nothing else, it was a time – for one day – when I wanted to shut out the outside world and was instead faced with a reminder of the increasing threats against the safety of Jewish people, even if not perpetrated by these individuals.”
This is one of several cases of Jewish patients feeling uncomfortable across the trust.
In January, a receptionist was seen wearing a t-shirt showing a keffiyeh scarf covering the map of Israel.
A patient complained, and said it was not appropriate for a staff member to wear this type of shirt in an NHS environment.
The patient added: “I am Jewish, and a proud East End British Jew at that, with my grandmother born in this very hospital.
“This type of a diagram is depicting Israel being taken over totally and is very provocative to somebody who is Jewish and indeed I have family living in Israel as well.”
There were also reports of an elderly Jewish men feeling “deeply distressed” while receiving treatment by people wearing Palestinian symbols.
One man getting dialysis at Whipps Cross in November was confronted by a work experience student wearing a football shirt showing the map of Palestine over the whole of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Following a warning from UKLFI, stating that the trust could be in violation of the Equality Act 2010 and its own policies on racism, Whipps Cross confirmed it would no longer allow the display of political symbols.
In a letter to UKLFI, Dr Amanjit Jhund, the chief executive of Whipps Cross University Hospital, said: “The revised policy will be going live this week and will say: Our staff are expected not to be wearing or displaying political symbols, eg badges, lanyards, or clothing with political slogans, ideology or national flag.
“The purpose of adopting a position of political neutrality is to foster an environment of inclusivity.”
Last December, Health Secretary Wes Streeting called on regulators to strike-off doctors who brought radical views on Gaza into the workplace.
The director of UKLFI, Caroline Turner, said: “We are pleased that the new dress code has been introduced, and hope that it will be communicated clearly to all staff. Those who breach the code should be subject to appropriate disciplinary actions.”
A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust said: “We are reissuing our uniform policy to make clear that staff are not expected to wear or display political symbols, including badges and slogans or flags on clothing.”
“Our dress code upholds our political neutrality in order to contribute to an inclusive culture at work.”
Find Out More...
The ban will apply to the five hospitals in the Barts Heath NHS Trust - St Bart’s, Mile End, Newham, Royal London and Whipps Cross.
The decision came after UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) brought forward the case of a Jewish patient who attended Whipps Cross for a caesarean, and saw three staff members wearing pro-Palestine symbols in the span of 24 hours.
The woman said: “The display of these symbols made me feel extremely vulnerable, particularly given the level of anti-Semitic activity we’re all witnessing via the extreme elements of online activity and at the UK-wide marches.”
She explained that she felt “panicked” while waiting for surgery, and was afraid her care could be jeopardised by someone who didn’t like Jewish people or Israel.
The woman added: “I understand the strength of feeling from those deeply concerned about the conflict. However, I do not see that it is reasonable to have political views on display in the workplace, particularly when dealing with patients at their most vulnerable and when the conflict and the symbolism surrounding it are so deeply complex.”
She said she would have also found it inappropriate if a staff member had an Israeli flag on their lanyard.
“One of the staff wearing a Palestinian flag was responsible for checking my baby’s eyesight when he was under one day old – so at a time when I should have been recuperating and receiving the highest quality support and care, I was instead feeling panicked about the interaction,” she said.
MORE LIKE THIS:
- Antisemitism in UK ‘off the rails’ as Jeremy Corbyn accused of triggering 'explosion' of hate, director of US campuses film warns
- Jewish doctors face rising antisemitism from NHS colleagues as incidents throughout Britain increase threefold in just one year
- NHS neurologist hails Hamas leader a 'legend' in string of anti-Semitic hate online
“If nothing else, it was a time – for one day – when I wanted to shut out the outside world and was instead faced with a reminder of the increasing threats against the safety of Jewish people, even if not perpetrated by these individuals.”
This is one of several cases of Jewish patients feeling uncomfortable across the trust.
In January, a receptionist was seen wearing a t-shirt showing a keffiyeh scarf covering the map of Israel.
A patient complained, and said it was not appropriate for a staff member to wear this type of shirt in an NHS environment.
The patient added: “I am Jewish, and a proud East End British Jew at that, with my grandmother born in this very hospital.
“This type of a diagram is depicting Israel being taken over totally and is very provocative to somebody who is Jewish and indeed I have family living in Israel as well.”
There were also reports of an elderly Jewish men feeling “deeply distressed” while receiving treatment by people wearing Palestinian symbols.
One man getting dialysis at Whipps Cross in November was confronted by a work experience student wearing a football shirt showing the map of Palestine over the whole of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Following a warning from UKLFI, stating that the trust could be in violation of the Equality Act 2010 and its own policies on racism, Whipps Cross confirmed it would no longer allow the display of political symbols.
In a letter to UKLFI, Dr Amanjit Jhund, the chief executive of Whipps Cross University Hospital, said: “The revised policy will be going live this week and will say: Our staff are expected not to be wearing or displaying political symbols, eg badges, lanyards, or clothing with political slogans, ideology or national flag.
“The purpose of adopting a position of political neutrality is to foster an environment of inclusivity.”
Last December, Health Secretary Wes Streeting called on regulators to strike-off doctors who brought radical views on Gaza into the workplace.
The director of UKLFI, Caroline Turner, said: “We are pleased that the new dress code has been introduced, and hope that it will be communicated clearly to all staff. Those who breach the code should be subject to appropriate disciplinary actions.”
A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust said: “We are reissuing our uniform policy to make clear that staff are not expected to wear or display political symbols, including badges and slogans or flags on clothing.”
“Our dress code upholds our political neutrality in order to contribute to an inclusive culture at work.”
Find Out More...