Conservatives would ban political badges in NHS

Health secretary Victoria Atkins has said a Conservative Government will ban NHS workers from wearing political badges.

Victoria Atkins (c) UK Parliament

Victoria Atkins (c) UK Parliament

Speaking to The Jewish Chronicle, Atkins said she had already held conversations with NHS England about a ban.

Atkins said: ‘Our hospitals, surgeries and other healthcare settings should not be places where individuals express their political views, but environments that enable people simply to get health care quickly and safely.

‘Working with NHS England, I know they share these concerns, as do NHS trust executives — and indeed, the overwhelming majority of people who work in the NHS.'

Atkins was speaking following a surge in the number of doctors, nurses and other NHS staff wearing Palestinian badges since massacre of Israelis by militant Palestinian groups on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Gaza conflict.

The health secretary also referred to an incident where a nine-year-old Jewish boy was allegedly thrown out of bed at Manchester Royal Infirmary by a nurse wearing Palestinian flags.

Incidents of antisemitism are on the rise with 66 allegations reported to the General Medical Council between 7 October 2023 and the end of March 2024 compared with none in 2022. 

Government asks ICBs to offer 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments

Government asks ICBs to offer 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments

By Liz Wells 21 February 2025

NHS England has written to ICBs across the country, directing each to provide thousands of urgent appointments over the next year.

Widening gulf in job satisfaction between youngest and oldest NHS staff

By Liz Wells 20 February 2025

Early careers clinical staff in the NHS have become more stressed and unhappy over the past decade, with over half of young workers now made ill through work...

Nursing staff to wear cameras in boost to safety

By Liz Wells 20 February 2025

The Royal Free London (RFL) introduced body worn cameras for senior nurses in certain areas of the trust to help staff remain safe during incidents of violen...


Popular articles by Lee Peart