Political badges should be banned from NHS uniforms

What do pro-badge posters think about Jess Philips MP saying she got preferential treatment in a&e because of her Palestinian stance?

It’ll become like the Freemasons with winks and nods about who gets to the front of the queue based on badge-wearing.

But it is for the wearer. You all claim it’s to help people. Who is going to be affected positively by someone wearing a Palestine pin? It’s not going to help the people you say you support. The Palestinians being killed are on the other side of the world but the Jews in this country are suffering for it.

It is hard enough finding a decent HCP who knows what’s going on in your file. So if you walked in with any flag or badge I am going to be wondering about your professionalism tbh. I’m certainly not going to trust someone who thinks their political opinion has any place in a medical consultation.

What do pro-badge posters think about Jess Philips MP saying she got preferential treatment in a&e because of her Palestinian stance?

It’ll become like the Freemasons with winks and nods about who gets to the front of the queue based on badge-wearing.

Meaning given to a Palestinian flag badge by healthcare professional: Genocide is terrible
Meaning given to a Palestinian flag by a Jewish patient: Jewish people are not welcome here by me

Meaning given to a vaccine badge by heathcarer: The world would be a safer, healthier place if we all got vaccinated.
Meaning given by a Traveller patient: You're not entitled to bodily autonomy, I'm going to push you to get treatments you don't want for the good of the herd.

Patient centred care means it's the patient's meanings that are centred. Not the healthcare professional's.
And you're instructions on how to be a good patient are depressing.
"Just ignore the badges and concentrate on what the provider is doing for you."
You're not there to teach patients how to be good at their role, by altering their perceptions, shifting their focus, submitting to "doctor knows best and I must trust their intentions" and perform the emotional labour of deciphering those intentions.
No.
Patient comes first.
If you want to express yourself go to Speakers' Corner.

I don’t actually think they do mean me harm. I think in this time of very heightened emotions, do no harm should include a consideration of mental health. So English flags, Jewish stars, whatever… they just aren’t appropriate for NHS staff. There’s no reason for a health care professional to be a political activist at work. In my particular situation, I am very aware of one specific issue but I’m sure plenty of other people have other experiences and triggers so I would say people in a position of trust have a responsibility to be as neutral as possible.

You are very much misunderstanding if you think I said I actually think a doctor or nurse would hurt me for being Jewish at a hospital. My daughter was indeed hurt at school but that was by teenagers, the teachers wearing flags of support for those violent thugs just make her not want to go ask them for help, they haven’t actually hurt her physically.

Why ever not? It's literally lifesaving. Ignore what I said about it not being a good example, it's a perfect example of how people perceive things doesn't alter their intent. If you wanna be antivax and assume vaccines are political you're entitled to - what you don't get to do is change facts and say the be edits of vaccines are just an opinion instead of a fact.

Well tbh I would be going by someone's medical records for their vaccine history. And provided I provide someone with excellent care for the issue they present with, it's not my job to make an antivaxer feel like I'm not judging them, if that's their own internal mindset. Not vaccinating your children is harmful and I wouldn't lie that vaccines aren't scientifically evidenced if asked by a patient so why do I have to be neutral about it? Again wearing a "I've had my jab!" Badge isn't me wearing a "antivaxer are dumb" badge, they obviously have a totally different intention.

“What if a patient feels uncomfortable?” - patients can feel uncomfortable with all sorts of things. Some people are uncomfortable with Pride symbols, anti-racism messages, or a white poppy. That doesn’t mean healthcare workers should hide every expression of conscience.
I wear a Palestine badge and a white poppy because they reflect values I consider fundamental: opposition to war, violence, and the killing of civilians. If someone is uncomfortable with my opposition to genocide, then yes, I think maintaining that moral position is more important than avoiding that discomfort. I am never going to apologise for my symbols against genocide and peace.
The question isn’t whether every patient agrees with me. The question is whether opposing the mass killing of civilians is a value worth standing up for. I believe it is.

New report says political badges such as Pro Palestine shouldn't be worn on NHS uniforms. It's led to increased antisemitism and fear amongst Jewish patients.

Also NHS uniforms not to be worn on protests.

This report makes a number of suggestions and in my opinion must be implemented. All political badges off NHS uniforms. No NHS uniforms on protests such as pro Palestine. It contributes to racism and fear.

The NHS should treat all patients equally and individuals political opinions shouldn't be pinned on their uniforms.

While I understand why a parent would be protective of their child and cautious about anything that makes them uncomfortable, I don’t think it’s fair to assume that wearing a Palestine pin means someone would provide worse care or hold hostility toward Jewish patients.
I also think parents have a responsibility to teach children not to make assumptions about people based solely on a symbol, badge or expression of concern for others. A Palestine pin does not automatically tell you how someone will treat you, what their values are in every respect, or whether they can be trusted to care for a patient professionally and compassionately.
For me, a Palestine pin is not a statement against Jewish people. It is a statement of concern for Palestinian civilians, including children who have been killed, injured, displaced, orphaned, traumatised or denied medical care. All of which are there for all who care and want to see.
Caring about Palestinian children does not diminish concern for Jewish children, or for any other child who needs help. Those concerns are not mutually exclusive.
You say you hope never to come across me when you need help. That’s your choice. But I would still treat you and your child with the same care, dignity and compassion as anyone else, regardless of your views about my badge.

This.

They can go bang whatever drum they want to bang, in their free time, not at work, in an NHS uniform.

I disagree, I think the nub of the issue is the assertion that a pin is for the wearer alone and not FOR other patients, and the assumption that it's somehow inherently anti any patients it's not aimed at.

Agreed, I think the most important aspect is whether a HCP treats all patients with the same respect and care, which includes being understanding if they wish to be cared for by someone else. HCPs are people too, so I don't think we need to restrict their expression or solidarities as long as they provide great care.

Yes, I agree. I don't know the details of the case well enough to know exactly what happened but I'd say the nurse should avoid using any pronouns if they felt unable to use the patient's preferred ones.

I don't believe in compelled speech (e.g. forcing the nurse to use preferred pronouns) but as you say, noting it on the form and medically treating the patient as per the sex seems the most sensible way of respecting the nurse's beliefs and treating the patient.

I think this is the nub of the problem and why these posters will never change their point of view. People have tried so hard to get them to empathise, to put themselves in the shoes of potential patients who might find them upsetting, but it has got nowhere, and never will.

Because, for them, it literally is "all about them". Other people are simply there to either appreciate their opinions or to shut up.

They have no interest in anyone who may be upset by them. This is why a debate is pointless and a blanket ban is the only option.

You're only looking at it from your point of view though.

How you see it may not be the same as how your patients see it. And as it's irrelevant to you delivering their care, there is no need to display it on work time.

By that logic the nurse who insisted on calling a patient he could impact the ability for a patient to receive the care they need too? Provided it's documented accurately in notes what the patients biologically sex is as well, then a HCP is affecting the patients ability to deal with the HCP if they insist on not following their preference of addressing them by preferred name or pronoun.

While I understand why a parent would be protective of their child and cautious about anything that makes them uncomfortable, I don’t think it’s fair to assume that wearing a Palestine pin means someone would provide worse care or hold hostility toward Jewish patients.
I also think parents have a responsibility to teach children not to make assumptions about people based solely on a symbol, badge or expression of concern for others. A Palestine pin does not automatically tell you how someone will treat you, what their values are in every respect, or whether they can be trusted to care for a patient professionally and compassionately.
For me, a Palestine pin is not a statement against Jewish people. It is a statement of concern for Palestinian civilians, including children who have been killed, injured, displaced, orphaned, traumatised or denied medical care. All of which are there for all who care and want to see.
Caring about Palestinian children does not diminish concern for Jewish children, or for any other child who needs help. Those concerns are not mutually exclusive.
You say you hope never to come across me when you need help. That’s your choice. But I would still treat you and your child with the same care, dignity and compassion as anyone else, regardless of your views about my badge.