by Judith Moritz and Daniel Wittenberg, BBC
NHS staff could be barred from wearing political badges on their uniforms, such as pro-Palestinian symbols, as part of proposals to help tackle antisemitism.
The measure is one of several recommendations in a review by the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann, external.
The review examined antisemitism and other forms of racism within the NHS. Its findings include that some Jewish patients and NHS staff have felt the need to hide their religious identity.
Health Secretary James Murray said Lord Mann’s report “has made a series of robust and practical recommendations” to tackle antisemitism, which the government has accepted.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the government is supporting the recommendations in full “subject to consultation and further engagement with key stakeholders”.
It will work with the organisations named in Lord Mann’s report towards delivering the recommendations for the wider system, it added in a statement.
Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said: “We accept all of the recommendations in Lord Mann’s review and as a leadership community, we will act swiftly to implement them.
“The NHS at its best is a place of compassion, care and unity – not conflict – and there is unacceptable antisemitism and racism in the NHS, faced by both our staff and our patients and we must root this out.”