NHS staff in the UK could be banned from wearing political badges, such as pro-Palestinian symbols, on their uniforms, as part of proposals to help tackle antisemitism within the health service, according to Sky News. The measure is one of several recommendations now being put forward.
The proposals form part of a review carried out by the government's independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann. According to Sky News, he says that Jewish patients and staff face routine ostracism in the service, and he is calling for a major overhaul of the system.
Among the recommendations is a call for the government to introduce mandatory antisemitism training for NHS leaders within six months. The review also proposes bringing in clear national guidance on how staff should respond to racist behaviour from members of the public.
According to Sky News, the government is also set to publish a new set of staff standards designed to better hold trusts to account. These would set out minimum expectations for how trusts must prevent, respond to and learn from racist incidents within the health service.
Speaking about the badge proposal, Lord Mann used the example of a patient in a dentist's chair. He said that, with the dentist about to drill his teeth, he would not expect them to be wearing political badges, adding that even a Labour Party badge would not be appropriate in that setting.
He said the same applied to symbols on either side of a divisive debate, giving the example of a badge expressing support for Palestine or, equally, a badge expressing support for Israel. He said he did not want a dentist to be wearing such a badge while treating him.
According to Sky News, Lord Mann described the measure as a very straightforward policy, and said he believed it should be, and would be, the policy across the NHS. The recommendations are aimed at rebuilding confidence among Jewish patients and staff and at setting consistent standards on tackling racism in the service.