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Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

NHS staff told to stop wearing uniforms at pro-Palestinian demonstrations

190 replies

Twiglets1 · 11/05/2025 08:14

Article in The Telegraph yesterday (behind paywall):

NHS staff will be told to stop wearing their work uniforms on marches and displaying pro-Palestinian badges in the workplace as part of a crackdown on anti-Semitism in the health service.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, revealed the plans as he vowed to snuff out “the appalling experiences of anti-Semitism affecting Jewish staff and patients” in the NHS.

The Health Secretary has encouraged trusts to roll out wider anti-Semitism training in the workplace. Such training has already been provided to some NHS organisations by the Anti-Semitism Policy Trust.

Following concerns over anti-Semitic activities in medical schools, Mr Streeting has said they should be adhering to wider university sector guidance on stamping out such behaviour.

In December, he vowed in The Telegraph to have medics struck off the medical register if they brought “racist or extreme views” about the Gaza conflict into the workplace.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Actions speak louder than words, which is why we are working with the NHS to put concrete measures in place to stamp out discrimination and protect Jewish staff and patients.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/10/nhs-streeting-staff-uniforms-protests/

OP posts:
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TooManyNiblings · 11/05/2025 08:57

Our Trust policy is we can commute in our uniform but not wear it anywhere we could be identified as the NHS should be neutral.
Those 'nurses' in the supermarket could easily be from other professions, eg spa workers, animal care workers (PDSA staff used to elwear the same uniform as my previous trust!).

Bfmamma · 11/05/2025 08:57

My mum was a nurse for 40+ years. It was drilled into her that you do not wear your uniform out of work. It used to wind her up seeing people in town or at the park in their uniform. This was for hygiene and if you get caught doing something you shouldn't,you didn't give the NHS a bad name.
She even used to go to work in civvies then change there.
I think it's fine supporting what you believe in bit you should not let it be linked to your profession

Moglet4 · 11/05/2025 08:56

Newbutoldfather · 11/05/2025 08:20

Good.

It is a complex situation and I know people passionately on both sides of the argument.

It would be awful if you knew someone who had been killed on 7/10 to have to be treated by someone you had seen in a protest where many protesters were clearly happy about the attack.

Happy about the attack? Talk about a stretch

Toddlerteaplease · 11/05/2025 08:55

They shouldn’t be wearing uniforms out of the work place anyway!

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 11/05/2025 08:49

Whispee · 11/05/2025 08:45

Feels strange having such a sensible statement made by a politician.

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I like Wes Steeting because he always seems sensible to me. But then again it’s hard to trust any politician these days!

OP posts:
AgnesX · 11/05/2025 08:49

Noone should wear their uniform outside work for hygiene reasons never mind political ones. I hate seeing nurses in the supermarket in their uniforms.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 11/05/2025 08:47

CaptainMyCaptain · 11/05/2025 08:42

My husband used to work for the NHS and wasn't supposed to wear his uniform out of the hospital anyway so I don't see how this arises really. Not that I disagree with their stance on Gaza.

People have been wearing their NHS uniforms at Pro- Palestinian demonstrations though as you can see in the article photo.

I guess they will now explicitly be told not to so it will be more of a disciplinary offence if they continue to do so and are identified.

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Katesam2016 · 11/05/2025 08:47

Rightly so.

Whispee · 11/05/2025 08:45

Twiglets1 · 11/05/2025 08:21

They shouldn't be.

As Wes Streeting said, "Staff should not be wearing uniforms on political protests, with the exception of protests against the Government about matters of health policy.”

Show quote history

Feels strange having such a sensible statement made by a politician.

CaptainMyCaptain · 11/05/2025 08:42

My husband used to work for the NHS and wasn't supposed to wear his uniform out of the hospital anyway so I don't see how this arises really. Not that I disagree with their stance on Gaza.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 11/05/2025 08:40

Newbutoldfather · 11/05/2025 08:20

Good.

It is a complex situation and I know people passionately on both sides of the argument.

It would be awful if you knew someone who had been killed on 7/10 to have to be treated by someone you had seen in a protest where many protesters were clearly happy about the attack.

I think that as professionals the NHS staff should keep their views about the war in Gaza out of the workplace so no wearing badges etc. Wes Streeting reiterated guidance that states “one or two badges denoting professional qualifications or memberships may be acceptable on uniforms” but that “any more looks unprofessional”.

As you say, it's a complex situation that people on both sides feel passionately about. NHS staff can hold their own views in private & attend demonstrations in their own clothes if they want to but they shouldn't be trying to link political views with the NHS.

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Original poster
Twiglets1 · 11/05/2025 08:21

Whispee · 11/05/2025 08:17

Why do they wear uniforms anyway to protests? Do people from Asda etc wear theirs? I think it's fair enough at work as well in a healthcare service we all pay taxes towards.

They shouldn't be.

As Wes Streeting said, "Staff should not be wearing uniforms on political protests, with the exception of protests against the Government about matters of health policy.”

OP posts:
Newbutoldfather · 11/05/2025 08:20

Good.

It is a complex situation and I know people passionately on both sides of the argument.

It would be awful if you knew someone who had been killed on 7/10 to have to be treated by someone you had seen in a protest where many protesters were clearly happy about the attack.

Whispee · 11/05/2025 08:17

Why do they wear uniforms anyway to protests? Do people from Asda etc wear theirs? I think it's fair enough at work as well in a healthcare service we all pay taxes towards.

HermioneWeasley · 11/05/2025 08:16

Good