Political badges should be banned from NHS uniforms

I don’t see why any badges should be worn at all. You never know what might make a patient uncomfortable so none should be allowed.

Whats wrong with this?

All public sector/publicly funded positions should be banned from symbolism, badges, lanyards and so on. It is a disgrace that it has been allowed up to now. The ban should not just be for NHS.

It's about time our public employees realised that their positions are in their contract not a vehicle for political activism.

According to google, in France, scarves ad turbans are banned in their NHS.

Totally agree.

Some folk wear fish, crosses etc. And some carry the Kirpan. I wonder if the NHS bans the kirpan from being worn in the workplace.

They are public servants. They are paid by the public purse.
Their own political beliefs they can keep to themselves. They should work with impartiality. Wearing a political badge undermines that completely.
I am amazed this is allowed to occur. Sorry, perhaps I am not.
That an expensive report had to be done to suggest shows the state of affairs.
That anyone could seek to justify wearing a badge is not good.

I had surgery and one of the nurses had a fish on a chain. That intrigued me. According to google, it's a Christian symbol. I wondered whether crosses are banned and that's why he wore a fish.

Yanbu, good to see the majority voting is that.

Agree 100%.
I just don’t understand why you need to ‘say’ anything with your uniform ffs.

This. all our badges when printed had rainbows on- why? we just need a plain formal NHS name badge with no extra stuff

As I said I agree there should be no political badges, pro Palestinian or other. Just noting that being pro Palestine is not anti semitic, for the record

But why allow studs in ears then? Thats all about the wearer too. Honestly I genuinely dont see the difference
Also FWIW its a lot easier to take a wedding ring on and off quickly than a nose stud.

Slogans, lanyards etc shouldn't be worn in any workplace. As the title suggests, it's a place of work not an outlet for people's personal opinions.

The majority of people go to work. Everyone should be able to do that without being made to feel uncomfortable or worried.

@Focacciaisyum I feel it’s on your face and not the cultural norm for health professionals. It’s all about you and that’s the issue with all of this. It’s the individual trumping everything else. Why not just a wedding ring?

Ah but a wedding ring is representative of British culture and I'm sure @MeetMeOnTheCorner has no objection to that, it's just other cultures that she finds confronting.

Why no to nose piercings? I mean im.jot arguing with you i just dint see the issue? What is the difference between a tiny stud in my nose and tiny studs in my ears? Especially as its a cultural sign of marriage and we're allowed to wear a wedding ring (which is more of a theoretical hygiene risk since its on the hand)

The "good old days" when the NHS was institutionally misogynistic and homophobic?

I've nothing against the banning of political badges but it's worth remembering why things like Pride badges became a thing in the first place. The old days of the NHS weren't good at all for lots of people.

True , although racism, misogyny and homophobia were utterly entrenched in the NHS back then.

I feel that there should be a correction to all of this nonsense. Allowing political badges, allowing certain religions to wear knives and take them to SCHOOL!

Of course Starmer is going to do nothing, he has already said 'lessons must be learnt' let the investigatiors do their job. Kick the can down the road and btw - I wont be here anyway and it will be someone else's job to take the flak for this and that person makes so many u turns he will be even worse if that is even possible.

I am no fan of Farage but to ignore what he is saying and not have a sensible conversation about what is happening is madness. He should be a small party in the background and look what we have allowed to happen.

People at work are professionals, not billboards.

Their professional and integrity is supported by thorough equalities policies, to which they are accountable. The uniform and the NHS logo is all that is needed.

No Pride, Palestinian, St George, Saltire, Blue Peter, cycling proficiency badges , none of it! And no visible religious symbols either.

It isn’t about the rights or wrongs of each insignia: insignia full stop is inappropriate on an NHS uniform or worn by NHS staff. Ditto. Emergency services, civil servants , teachers and so on.

I think people in the nhs want to be seen as professionals but seem to act as political slogan bearers. No to nose piercings too. I’m amazed everyone n sent culture can afford a diamond but do we need to know about anyones beliefs or cultural background. Just do the job.

Its absolutely insane that it has ever been allowed. I applied for a job in the NHS and I would have had to remove my teeny tiny diamond nostril stud (which btw is a cultural norm for people of my heritage) because 'patients may be scared' of facial piercings !!??
But people have been wearing Free Palestine badges? What?

I don’t either. Frankly, it’s ridiculous. I can’t believe we’re even having to ask this question.
In the good old days you wouldn’t have all this nonsense. It started off with the rainbow lanyards, to signing off with your pronouns, to describing people as ‘they / them’ and now wearing political badge. FFS! 🤦‍♀️
The days of professionalism, health and safety are long gone.

We are so tolerant bordering on stupid in the UK. Why is it even allowed? What happens with no boundaries is that people push and push them. I have been in London when many of the pro Palestine marches are on. I dont like them. There are literally 1000's of people shouting out all sorts. Jewish people are being hissed at.

I am not even going to get started on the cost.