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

[Twiglets1]

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/

No one has to be neutral about the starvation. But it’s not actually helpful to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza for NHS workers to wear uniforms at demonstrations. People can still attend demonstrations in their normal clothes.

Wes Streeting isn’t saying don’t support the Palestinians or don’t support the Israelis. He’s simply saying it’s inappropriate to try to use your uniform (or badges) to link your beliefs with your job because NHS workers serve a diverse community.

I don't think it's up to those who want to wear these Palestinian flags to determine how they should be interpreted. It is not a flag of peace currently it is a flag of a portion of country at war and it is perfectly feasible the public will interpret the flags as support for the group that instigated this war Hamas. We all know that as well as having empathy for those killed in had the wearers of the badges in the main if questioned would probably support the demands of Gazans of the destruction of Israel. This is not a badge for NHS workers who should display political neutrality at all times.

I wonder also if Palestine in flag displayers have considered wearing poppies or indeed white poppies to commemorate British citizens that does during the second world war with German bombing? Nope.

I think the public might not be so alarmed by perhaps the union Jack being worn as a badge by NH S employees but the pro Palestinian supporters I would think probably would be aghast at the wearing of a symbol of a historical ally of Israel.

sorry but still no to these badges and I think in their heart of hearts the wearers know why.

I understand why healthcare workers feel solidarity with those working in the same position as them losing their lives unnecessarily. Especially as even in war deliberate attacks on medics constitute a war crime.
As I have said before my teachers union has a committee for support for Palestinians especially concerning the children who have had no education for 18 months.
It's a common interest and empathy.

Once it is not within the work place or uniforms at protests and does not impact on patients and their families it is definitely understandable to have that solidarity with those in the profession losing their lives daily while carrying out their jobs and trying to help the most vulnerable.

It's still bringing politics into a public funded workplace which needs to be stopped, regardless of the cause.

Quite. I’m a community nurse that sometimes drives 100 miles in a day, occasionally I have to go to a supermarket, sport centre, cafe to use their loo or buy a drink/ food. I try and cover my uniform but not easy in the summer!
i certainly wouldn’t wear it on a protest though.

Exactly. I can also understand why workers feel solidarity with particular groups and when I used to work in a school many staff felt a solidarity with Ukraine - especially as we had a few refugee Ukraine children moving to our school so felt great empathy for them having their lives and education disrupted.

A bit different as Ukraine didn't start the war so not responsible in any way for the war in their country. Not saying that ordinary Palestinians are responsible either but some do support Hamas so the situation is more nuanced than in Ukraine. However, they certainly don't deserve to be denied humanitarian aid.

So I consider it completely understandable that some healthcare workers feel strongly about the situation in Gaza. But it's a highly controversial war and for that reason the NHS as a body want to appear neutral.

There's a massive difference between wearing the uniform whilst working in public compared to specifically putting on a uniform on an otherwise non working day to attend a political rally or other demonstration/protest/event etc to "virtue signal" that you're a nurse or doctor. Likewise, attending such an event before or after a shift. Being in a uniform in a supermarket is completely different to being in a uniform on a political march.

I think that's very different to medical staff choosing to put on their uniforms to attend a demonstration. Of course it's understandable that community nurses are seen in their uniforms while in the community, and on their breaks.

Demos in support of terrorists! Have you been on a march? It's the systematic killing and bombing of children they are opposed to. Now the starvation. Israel is the occupier, has been oppressing and killing Palestinians for years.

Who are you replying to? It’s easier to follow if you quote them.

Yes community nurses obviously have to wear their uniforms outside and might have to nip into the supermarket ffs! I agree they shouldn’t be worn on political marches unless this is related to work.

Just to be extra clear, Palestinians did not start the war, history did not begin on October 7th, Israel as a state was created via ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

Empathy should not be conditional. I don't think this is what you meant but it's how it comes across.

The threads about them at demonstrations. Others may have derailed to wearing in the workplace, I’m not

Well said!

I know Palestinians did not start the war, Hamas did.

That's why I said, Not saying that ordinary Palestinians are responsible either but some do support Hamas so the situation is more nuanced than in Ukraine.

People that support Hamas support the October 7th massacre, in my opinion. Regardless of any history that went on beforehand.

I'm not commenting on Hamas here or Oct 7th, it was a massacre. But Hamas didn't start the war and people need to know the context. Palestinians have been killed by Israel on oct 6th, 5th and all the way back to its inception,even before Hamas was created. Ethnic cleansing has been taking place since Israel was created.

I highlight this point because there is a lot of casual stereotyping and association of Palestinians. Ultimately this leads to dehumanisation and turning a blind eye to genocide where people have to prove their humanity.

Hamas did start this war.

You know that Israel has never started any war? They have won all the wars started against them though. If the Palestinians had accepted a 2 state solution in one of the many times it had been offered to them they could have built a thriving economy like Israel has. Instead they chose to indoctrinate their children to hate Jews, building generations of hate. Why would you want your child to be a "martyr"? They have chosen terrorism and war over and over again. The reason Israel has such tight controls into what goes ino Gaza/ people leaving Gaza is because their stated aim is the destruction of Israel and all Jews. Without controls Israelis would be at great risk. As they have proven over and over again. Israeli's are generally peace loving. I don't think you can say the same for a large percentage of Gazans.

Good, a sensible decision for once.

The same goes for every other political or other affiliated badges/lanyards etc. NHS workers should be impartial when dealing with patients/clients and represent this when in uniform.

The same should apply to all other uniformed professionals - police, military etc.

The hate is largely from the Israelis, they are taught this in schools from a young age - well documented. Palestinian history, the nakba is all erased.

I've met both Israelis and Palestinians - world of a difference in their world view and how they are taught. Israelis are taught that Arabs hate them from the start. Palestinians - I hardly see this.

Many Israeli towns are built on destroyed Palestinian villages. They were expelled from their land.

And no this war didn't start on Oct 7th because Israel had been systematically removing Palestinians, killing them, murdering them.

If you occupy a land, you need to create the hysteria that others are after you to justify the occupation.

Read Genocide Bad by Sim Kern she is a Jewish author. Read Avi Shlaims Memoirs of an Arab Jew, he is a historian who talks about his family life in Iraq, Israel and London.

Again, just to be clear the scale and depravity of this genocide, carried out by our ally is why there is a growing momentum of people who are educating themselves, challenging assumptions and calling for freedom for Palestinians.

So judgmental and not true. I know pro Palestine supporters who wear both the red and the white poppy.

Good

Excellent post

I am guessing that they are wearing their uniforms in solidarity with all the heath care workers who were deliberately targetted and murdered by the Israeli state