Political badges should be banned from NHS uniforms

In my NHS trust, no badges other than name badges are allowed. It’s a health and safety concern as well as infection prevention. This has been the case for many years.

Yes - now I think of it, at the time a Russian woman I knew, who had lived in the UK for decades, essentially disappeared from the social scene because she felt judged for her nationality.

Of course it is. It is like the difference between terrorist and freedom fighter - it depends what side you happen to be on

People are entitled to their political views but I don’t want to know them in a medical or professional setting. I don’t want to think I am being treated by someone who, by wearing a crappy lanyard, might make me wonder if they think sex is biological or not.

And that’s why it shouldn’t happen - we all have our own political opinions and someone clearly stating theirs are poles apart automatically makes it about that (iyswim!)

I agree.

It also doesn't happen in private healthcare. Mum had haer hip replaced in a private hospital last year and the staff wore ID badges clipped to a pocket on their tunics - no lanyards, no badges, no ribbons. That's how it should be.

I think it all increased when people were actively encourage to display the Ukraine flag everywhere. I never understood why that was ok at schools etc either. My nephew’s wife is Russian (anti Putin though) and she found all the displays of blue and yellow quite difficult to navigate.

The article states that 3 NHS staff are suing Barts NHS trust for impinging on their right to political expression. Mind boggling.

It is if you're only against one genocide (especially one that isn't even proven) and don't mind others.

Exactly. I don’t want political/ally badges and lanyards when I am treated.

It should never have been permitted. It wouldn't have been in the old days of Hattie Jacques-style matrons ('Carry On' film reference in case you didn't get it).

Half of the time the issue is that collecting badges on your lanyard has become the NHS version of Pokemon cards and expressing your individuality - to the point that they were the equivalent of a shiny sticker from the teacher in my NHS trust for a while (till they ran out of money for such fripperies). Drives me mad with the amount of them some colleagues have acquired over the years. Some of them must weigh a bloody tonne!

Yes you're right. But it then it should be an outright ban to everything. No flags, no rainbows, no poppies, no anything 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe just medical stuff like the aids or cancer ribbons 😉

As a patient and receiver of the service, you should not have to spend a moment worrying about what your Dr thinks.

The Dr can tell the world what they think in their own time.

Can they be non itchy as well then please? I'm on a constant battle with my NHS lanyard cos it's sensory hell as an autistic and they put all the itchy break points right where it touches my skin!

To be honest, it's the main reason lots of colleagues have the rainbow pride versions acquired over the years - they're less blooming itchy!

Agree - the NHS should be a trauma informed workplace. Badges and symbols have the potential to be distressing to patients or other staff members. A blanket ban is much easier to enforce.

Yes it is when the whole ‘Gaza ‘ thing has been politicised and when we know there isn’t a genocide there.

Nobody should be wearing anything political, minority group supporting in any sector of the civil service.
Politics and opinions have no place when you are being paid by Joe Public.

It’s not activism though.

If you’re being treated for a medical condition do you really care about what your doctor thinks?

I agree but there is also the issue of infection control, you don’t stick a badge through a 60 degree wash do you.

Democracy should absolutely stand for this, I completely agree with you but activism does not belong in public facing workplace. Teach children about what is going on in Gaza, in the Middle East more generally but activism is by its nature different with a different goal.

I also find the she/ her thing on email signatures pretty inflammatory. I did an on-line writing course and the woman introduced herself as 'Natalie She/ Her' as though it was her name. I lost all respect for them, and viewed them as unserious and silly.

Edited, to say that when I used 'them' I wasn't referring to Natalie She/ Her. She is is not a 'them', I meant the organisation. It was just so pathetic and embarrassing.

Being anti genocide isn’t political.

NHS guidelines from 2020 already say badges are poor practice: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Uniforms-and-Workwear-Guidance-2-April-2020.pdf section 5.6 Common Sense.

So this will be blamed on the team managers not following existing guidance with (probably quite militant) staff. The press coverage will help the managers to do so. I hope unions speak up in support of the policy, not the badge wearers.

Exactly. All this take your whole self to work shite needs to stop.
Work does not pay for my whole self, they pay for my skills, experience and professional self and that’s all they’re getting!