Political badges should be banned from NHS uniforms

[Ihatetomatoes]

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.

Can Muslim or Arab patients worry the or is it all just divisive assumptions not based in people's actual behaviour? Do you really fear all doctors (doctors!!) would deliberately give subpar and compromising treatment to Jewish patients or are you assuming this of a certain type? Would a pin of solidarity not ease your fear? I understand anti-Semitism is an issue, just like racism or islamaphobia but I don't understand the leap to thinking a majority of HCPs are consciously going to give you compromised care, the data doesn't even show this for groups that face worse health outcomes historically. Issues like implicit bias and erroneous assumptions about people's race being detrimental is an evidence issue but I would also think a black patient was being hyperbolic to assume a majority of doctors would intentionally single them out for substandard care.....

Agreed, the view very much seems to be some badges should be accepted as long as they align with certain viewpoints but as clearly shown in the last few weeks online and on the streets, there are large numbers of people who do think white people are being discriminated against.

We need less tribalism, from all sides, and that means not using your job and uniform as a platform for your chosen tribe(s).

If you've read my post, I have already explained many times I understand some people may feel differently and those people are entitled to not be treated by someone wearing such a badge. I just don't think they can argue that someone is wearing that badge specifically to make them feel unempathised with and I'd also question which badges carry that message, do people really think someone wearing an LGBT pin wouldn't empathise with them as a straight person? I'm still gonna need that explained to me like I'm an idiot apparently and not with examples of someone wearing a pin that's explicitly anti a group such as "I hate redheads" or a made up badge supporting white pride or whatever.

In the NHS we don’t want only some people to feel like their healthcare provider is on their side. We want everyone to feel valued equally.

Of course but historically this hasn't played out has it? Which is why some groups face worse health outcomes and it's actually improved that for them to be able to visually see which HCPs they would feel comfortable being open with.

I didn't say I should get to at all!! No one should be acting or behaving in a way that will upset people. I'm just saying wearing a pin isn't consciously doing that anymore than many other ways I could present myself would upset people. If I had blue hair without my rainbow lanyard I still think some would assume an affiliation I have and may be upset by that, that's not me upsetting them though?

@Fancythatfancyhat

"I understand some people may feel differently and those people are entitled to not be treated by someone wearing such a badge".

Great - you understand then that it's better that HCPs don't wear badges at all since there is no way of knowing who may find them concerning and who may find them comforting.

If I am wearing a Palestine pin and my white poppy and someone wants to wear an Israeli pin I have no issue with this. Just like I have no issue with marches supporting Israel. I am fine with them wearing it.

I think this is another unfair reading of a pro BAME or Pro LGBT pin though. Would the people who believe white people are being discriminated against wearing an antiracism badge or a badge that says white pride, and can you really not understand the real world difference between white pride and BAME groups? Do you think mens rights activists are equivalent to women's rights advocates genuinely?

You aren’t taking anything on board from anyone else so I’m not sure why you claim to seek clarification . You are misinterpreting people’s comments.

We get it, you think it’s fine that people won’t leave their political leanings at the door when they go to work, you are clearly fine with symbols making people feel uncomfortable as long as they make some people feel okay,

I don’t think anyone is saying that staff are wearing a badge specifically to make others uncomfortable.

I don’t deal with the public any more but I still wouldn’t bring my beliefs to work in such an obvious way.

Nope because you're ignoring their benefit again and the fa t that those who don't want to see one can request care from others. Likewise many other symbols will be concerning to some, so what do we ban? Is a Muslim Palestinian patient allowed to assume a doctor in a Kippah is pro settler and islamophobic?

Can you evidence that the wearing of badges has improved outcomes for those historically have received lower standards of care? And even if that is true, surely we should be seeking other ways to make everyone feel like they can be treated fairly.

Part of the evidence to support the ban came from patients saying they had delayed seeking care based on badges worn by healthcare workers so allowing the badges is just introducing more unequal outcomes.

And in case you don’t think it matters, I’m on the verge of disconnecting from my GP practice at the moment despite having several health conditions because it’s all bullshit.

Posted without seeing your post but yes - I’m on the verge of it. If it costs my health then so be it. As long as everyone can fly their favourite flag eh!

Muslim and Arab patients don’t need to worry because there have been no examples of Jewish doctors in the uk refusing to treat Muslim/arab patients. Given the recent examples of Muslim medics stating that they would refuse to treat Jewish patients, quite frankly as a Jewish person is it surprising I would question the intent of the intent of the doctor treating me and have to hope they would be able to separate their political views from my treatment? Do you think a Free Palestine pin would inspire confidence? Your reference to a black person feeling the same is ridiculous. There have been no examples of doctors refusing to treat black people. Surely you will concede that with the current climate of attacks on the Jewish community (burning ambulances and stabbings to name but a couple), you can understand the issue?

But you've already conceded that some people might be upset by you wearing a pin, as you don't know where they are coming from or what kind of context they bring to that pin that you don't understand.

So why do you get to do this, in a situation where you are there to give them care? You're not there to give them your views, they have no interest in that. You are there to treat them.

Having blue hair is not remotely comparable to you stating your affiliation to a particular cause.

@Fancythatfancyhat

do people really think someone wearing an LGBT pin wouldn't empathise with them as a straight person?

On the Progress and trans flags specifically, some people (in my view correctly) see it not merely as ‘not for them’ but as actively hostile, as the symbol of a movement that has:

• gutted women’s rights where they rely on sex-based distinctions,
• championed the medicalisation and even sterilization of mainly gay and autistic young people
• shut down dissent and undermined the law and democratic process
• pushed an agenda that has broken friendship groups and riven families

So it’s not just “those who like gay rights vs those who it doesn’t affect”, but more “those who support all of the above vs those who don’t”.

In my offline circles I don’t know many straights who are viscerally upset at this (unlike on MN), but I know quite a few gay men who are, at what they see as a destruction of gay rights and many gay youth.

Even if it makes thr patients feel uncomfortable? Your right to make a statement is more important?

Have you been in an NHS hospital recently? You're grateful just to get treated at all & not of the mindset to ask for someone else, regardless of whether the HCP you get assigned to inspires your trust or not or on a personal level.

It's fantasy land to think it's easy just to ask for someone else - what if there are long waits to be seen - or if there is only one person on duty for the sort of care you need?

The NHS trust can't do anything about patients making assumptions about the staff serving them, but they can do something about their staff not wearing badges that highlight particular causes that might not align with their patients beliefs.

Exactly - that doesnt matter apparently 🙄

Btw - not to derail but are you a Helloween fan by any chance (just from your username? 😬)

“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.

It may seem I'm not taking it on board because people either stop engaging when I've asked a question about their stance or completely avoided explaining themselves by throwing a red herring or strawman out there. I've simply asked, given so many items can be considered political, how does one leave that side out of work? I don't think legally we should disallow people from wearing a Kippah or headscarf for example which some find inherently political.

I don’t think anyone is saying that staff are wearing a badge specifically to make others uncomfortable.

Aren't they? There keeps being this question of why do people insist on wearing them when it makes people uncomfortable as if that's their sole intention.

Also I've stated many times that people should have to feel uncomfortable, I'm literally advocating for people to be seen by who they're comfortable with and surely a badge actually makes that easier if you're someone with a very deeply held fear of a certain opinion?

You might consider these views 'fundamental' but other people may interpret them very differently to you and get upset by them.

Why do you think your views are in any way relevant to delivering care to a patient?

But what if it isn't easy for patients to ask for someone else or it isn't possible to deliver another HCP?

Much more straightforward to ask staff to keep their pins for their personal time, no?

Sorry so you can assume every Muslim and Arab doctor would refuse to treat Jewish patients? Based on what? My example about black people insist ridiculous. I'm trying to explain to you that data actually shows that black people face worse health outcomes, particularly in maternity, because of structural racism embedded in the NHS and yet I still would think they're hyperbolic if they extrapolated that to mean they can't trust that any doctor in the UK wouldn't deliberately harm them. So I'm trying to understand why you can assume all doctors could likely deliberately compromise your health because you're Jewish based on what?

No I disagree for the benefits I've already stated. Plus the fact that a number of characteristics could mean a patient will still assume someone's stance without a pin so the pin isn't really the issue. If a pin made you so uncomfortable that you didn't feel you could be treated by that person, how is waiting for another HCP a problem? Unless it's an emergency in which case I'd be curious why you're assuming I'll intentions of the wearer regardless of them currently trying to save your life.

More straightforward to judge people on their behaviour, no?

But there are no benefits except for you - getting to broadcast your views.

Your patients don't come to a hospital / clinic to hear your political views. They come to be treated. So act like the professional you are and leave your views for your own time.