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.

Yes I think same. I work for a private company but wouldn't wear anything political at work.

Plenty of human behaviours are inappropriate on an NHS ward. Tribalism is one.

Your argument that "the patient might agree, or have a relative that agrees, therefore the expression is appropriate" is a stupid test.

Which of these would you permit?

i) Palestine flag (patient's relative might be Palestinian)
ii) IDF badge (patient's relative might be in the IDF)
iii) Black Power badge (patient's relative might be black)
iv) White Power badge (patient's relative might be white)
v) Stop the Genocide (Gaza)
vi) Stop the Genocide (Great Replacement)
etc etc etc

Is highlighting differences between people really the point of the NHS?

Repressive?? Okay then. It would be different if they represented views you found abhorrent, I can guarantee it.

Everyone can hold whatever views they want but the workplace is not the place for them. I don’t talk about my politics at my workplace because it’s not appropriate and just leads to division.

Bringing your whole self to work is one of those pathetic GenZ mantras

I'm not bothered if someone is gay or a member of their family is. They don't need to tell me or let me know when they are at work. I'm not interested in personal or political views if I'm in a medical setting or any work setting.

Work is not the place for making statements.

No, I am perimenopausal and full of energy

How have we got to this?? The NHS have been stuffed with money year after year and they seem to be going backwards. My late parents were in and out of hospital and what I saw wouldnt be allowed anywhere.

Two nurses speaking over my Mum in another language and when Mum asked what they were doing they completely ignored her. A senior nurse shruggling her shoulders when I said that the elderly women they put next to Mum suffering from dementia wasnt safe for Mum. The women was screaming her head off.

The whole NHS needs a massive wake up call. They arent there for themselves and to make their views and lives easier for themselves they are paid for by tax payers to treat people medically.

I would assume that the people in charge of the place had discussed and consulted about it. Not my place to control etiquette.

I would expect high standards of work regardless. My right as a service user.

So as a woman, you prioritise people’s right to hold abhorrent views (because with hot topics, the other side is always going to be abhorrent to some people) over someone’s right to be treated professionally. And those rights are more important than allowing someone to seek medical care?

Okay then. Do you also believe that elderly people don’t have a right to same sex care if available?

By everyone expressing every thought and view, you are actually repressing others.

I admit I also thought you were young.

My kids are the only Jewish children at both of their schools and they are surrounded by teachers wearing Palestinian support fashion. They find it extremely distressing after a few bullying instances of children harassing them to ‘pick a side’ or telling them they hope their whole family dies. My 9 year old is scared to go to school now.

It is really, really scary to be the only one of anything, particularly just now

You are ducking the question. This thread is effectively 'what should the etiquette be', or 'what rules should the people in charge of the place enforce'.

You are arguing for wide latitude on grounds of free expression, but don't want to defend staff wearing White Power badges.

Or maybe you will defend it -- will you?

I am amazed this even needs banning. I used to manage NHS clinical teams and the only badges allowed to be worn on uniform were a name badge and the badge of the professional body if the person was a member

I’m so sorry that you are all experiencing this.

The issue with these virtual signallers is that they often lack the intellect to understand that they can feel a certain way about a war but the people they come into day to day contact with aren’t responsible.

They should direct their anger at the governments involved. And if they really feel so strongly, why not go over there and try to help?

But no, it’s easier to make the lives of innocent people into a living hell. Why put your money where your mouth is when you can beat up and kill innocent people who have no defence. Blowing up ambulances in Golders Green probably felt like a massive win to these cowards.

I am not ducking the question. I am saying I do not go in making demands beyond the work being done.

The rest, e.g. what is hate speech or socially retrogressive, is not for me to decide as an individual though I may have views. It needs to be up for debate.

My position in this forum's debate is holding to human variety and trust.

Granted, it's not for either of us to decide.

But what's your view?

White Power badges permitted on NHS staff. Yes or no?

I do not work in the NHS.
My view is to ask the workers first.

What is ‘human variety and trust’? Do you trust a doctor to treat their Russian patient to the best of their ability even though they are displaying the Ukraine flag?

What about a swastika? Would that be just free expression of political views? Or an ‘Enoch was right’ badge?

Ok so let's suppose the workers say yes.

But it makes some nhs users very upset.

What then?

Apparently that’s okay I think. Better for people to die from feeling intimidated at seeking medical care than a grown adult be expected to have their political views ‘repressed’. I think that’s the gist.

So what happens if I object to any badge? Am I expected to just suck it up because the wearer is being honest about their opinions? We all hold views that some will find objectionable, the best course of action is to leave those opinions at home.

Why? If this is a freedom of expression issue, why should a staff member be bound by what their colleagues think is acceptable?

And why ask the workers rather than the patients?

And would you go with a simple majority view, or is a sufficient minority objection enough?

And nationally? Or is each NHS trust or site running such consultations?

And is running such consultations the best use of NHS resources?

As your contribution is (now) a process one, I’m interested what the process is.

We have to remove politics from the NHS, but it won’t be possible.

Many seems to think that the NHS is UK biggest and best asset and politicians can’t resist using our for their advantage.

It’s too big to fail, so we all pretend it’s wonderful and above approach.

This is his it’s come to this situation and this is why it’s tolerated.

Yes; any political statement, whether it's pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, 'Vote Labour' or 'Vote Reform' is inappropriate in an NHS context. The whole point of the NHS is that it's there for all.

Absolutely crazy position, right?

Because no one is saying they can't have these views or express them out of work. We're just saying refrain from broadcasting them on workdays 9-5.

I’m Welsh speaking. I had one of these on my lanyard before I retired - the one on the right. (The left hand one indicates a Welsh learner). To indicate I was happy to converse in Welsh with anyone if that was their preference. Should these also be banned?