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.

Look for more examples of Welsh language activism if you like. This is just one

How do you know who is English on mumsnet?

And if they don’t engage in the first place because of previous experience? They can’t make a complaint if they are dead.

Do you think someone’s right to express their political views in a non relevant professional situation trumps others rights to see a medical professional?

If so, I would suggest you wear a badge to that effect. It’s easy to get so caught up in virtue signalling that you ignore the consequences.

Like burning holiday cottages?

Disability is extremely politicised.

War also makes a lot of people disabled, so I can understand health workers protesting war.

Of course it's a derail.

Can you not tell the difference between a badge that says 'i speak welsh' and a badge that indicates a political or ideological position?

Saying you speak Welsh is not a political take, it's a statement of a fact that can be relevant to patient's needs/

I’m assuming you are just arguing for the sake of this now.

It’s lovely you are so inclusive that you have no issue with the consequences of this on others.

Same way as posters assume I am young and not Jewish?

I'm not English.

@ChipswithMayonnaise has painted themselves into a totally ludicrous corner, but can't give it up

What about badges indicating the person is adept in sign language? I’m sure deaf people have been locked up in the past so perhaps we should remove that option.

The issue is that people who fall over themselves to be accepting and tolerant are usually only that way to people who agree with their views

Nobody is stopping anyone seeing medical professionals.

I just am not going to undermine workplaces' right to decide what is reasonable alongside all stakeholders and using existing procedures.

A nation where some people allegedly cower and cringe while others snarl on their behalf is an ugly thing.

If you are Jewish then I would expect you to understand the impact of anti semitism.

Jewish or not, we can look to these rabbis www.rhr.org.il/en/

This thread has really become ridiculous. I'm sorry, but it has.
Public sector workers should deal fairly with everyone they come into contact with. Expressing an opinion of a political nature isn't doing that. I didn't lecture my customers on my political beliefs, I took great care not to express those opinions, I would like the same courtesy in return
My workplace wasn't worse for me because I didn't do that, it was better. Respecting the opinion of others by not forcing those opinions on others makes the workplace better.

Are you deliberately misunderstanding?

Post all the stirring battle cries you like.

Do you agree that when someone feels intimidated and that the doctor’s political views may impact the level of care they get, they may avoid seeking help ? You lack compassion which is something you ironically claim to have.

I find this discussion fascinating from a psychological / public opinion point of view. The opening paragraph of the article states that staff will be banned from wearing political badges but the whole review was targeted at antisemitism and the headline and much of the article obviously focusses on the wearing of Pro-Palestine badges.

But where is the line between political and general awareness raising - what about badges that represent a countries flag? Its more common in the US for people to wear a US Flag pin badge, but not over here, so presumably it would come under 'political' especially given the tension around the raising the colours nonsense.

What about a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness, blue ribbons for autism awareness, green ribbons for mental health awareness or orange ribbons for MS awareness? What about poppies?

If they are allowed for awareness with medical conditions, would you have to be careful about what time of year they were worn? Orange ribbons are also for the campaign to end violence against women and girls - so if you were an MS advocate, could you wear an orange ribbon for most of the year, as long as you avoided it in November during the 16 days of activism?

Are we just talking NHS staff here or all public facing staff? Some people in the thread have mentioned council staff - but I've worked in councils that have actively pushed campaigns around 16 days of activism to stop VAWaG, mental health awareness, foster care and care leavers awareness, autism awareness etc as part of their public health and support of vulnerable people duties and as part of their campaigns have encouraged staff to wear the relevant colour ribbons etc during the relevant periods.

I'm not against stopping people from wearing badges, lanyards or wristbands that have overt political messages, but there needs to be a lot more discussion and thought about what is classed as political and where the line between political and awareness raising is given the importance of public sector roles in undertaking that awareness raising.

It certainly can be in Wales. Before the election there were loads of comments on social media from Reform supporters saying that “if Plaid get in we’ll all be forced to speak Welsh” and other such bollocks.

We are not in the 1970's if you haven't noticed.

Okay I’m out - you clearly are happy with championing people’s inability to refrain from pushing their political views onto people for the hours they are at work.

And it’s brave to admit you dismiss the concerns of the Jewish community who have nothing to do with the war but are just trying to live their lives, despite the hatred and violence directed at them right now.

I am posting calming anti-battle pleas for critical thinking

I don't think it's very complex at all.

It's just about what's relevant to the job. So a flag pin, no.

Awareness raising for medical conditions, yes.

No you aren't. You are flailing around trying to support an unsupportable position. But you can't just admit that.

Please do not disrespect these rabbis. I take my cue from them.

You do not get to pick and choose what real Judaism is.

I completely agree. i used to work in an area where foxhunting was a massively popular activity which I was massively against. The NHS employed me to provide clinical services and not to express my opinions about the beliefs and behaviour of my patients.