NHS staff could be barred from wearing political badges on their uniforms

Mr Bump

Mr Bump

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I have often wondered why people in the NHS seem to get away with all kinds of political /societal crap on their uniforms?

you should have nothing on a uniform or workwear apart from ID and Dept badges etc.
 
Agreed, in fact no jewellery nor badges etc should be worn, it is supposed to be a hygiene-sensitive environment. That's why they used to not be allowed.
 
lindsay said:
Agreed, in fact no jewellery nor badges etc should be worn, it is supposed to be a hygiene-sensitive environment. That's why they used to not be allowed.
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The NHS just seems to have slipped into the "embrace everything" and "offend no one" to the point where they are almost a politocal wing.
I had to go with my wife to get an MRI scan of her knee and quite a few pink hair, multiple face piercings and all kinds of lanyards it was a bit of a clown show.
 
lindsay said:
Agreed, in fact no jewellery nor badges etc should be worn, it is supposed to be a hygiene-sensitive environment. That's why they used to not be allowed.
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If you can wear a lanyard or carry a pen around with you, or even a watch, how is wearing ear studs or a necklace affecting the hygiene-sensitive environment

I dont think it matters if someone has pin hair and multiple piercings, it's the ability to nurse, care and treat thats important. But I would say that anything political should not be worn
 
cambsno said:
If you can wear a lanyard or carry a pen around with you, or even a watch, how is wearing ear studs or a necklace affecting the hygiene-sensitive environment

I dont think it matters if someone has pin hair and multiple piercings, it's the ability to nurse, care and treat thats important. But I would say that anything political should not be worn
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This exactly its the ability to nurse and care that matters , last time I went for blood tests the nurse had dyed hair and tattoos but she was so nice put me at ease and was spot on taking the bloods hardly felt a thing
 
LCPete said:
This exactly its the ability to nurse and care that matters , last time I went for blood tests the nurse had dyed hair and tattoos but she was so nice put me at ease and was spot on taking the bloods hardly felt a thing
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When I had stitches last year, and being the big girls blouse that I am (hate blood and needle phobia), my nurses tattoos were a welcome distraction even though I don’t like them. Gave me something to focus on!
 
Marc said:
Why not? I recently spent 3 months in hospital. I saw nurses with union and Pride badges. Did it make any difference to my care? Absolutely not!
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because what would happen if people that were anti pride started displaying other badges like "anti-IDE" and Reform?
Would you be ok with that as well? Staff should play a neutral role in an organisation when interacting wit patients.
 
Marc said:
Why not? I recently spent 3 months in hospital. I saw nurses with union and Pride badges. Did it make any difference to my care? Absolutely not!
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Because where do you draw the line..? Any resulting arguments or bad feeling could negatively affect the level of service provided / received, either at the time or subsequently because of time and resources being wasted in defending or protesting someone's stance.

Better for everyone to just keep it professional.
 
Mr Bump said:
because what would happen if people that were anti pride started displaying other badges like "anti-IDE" and Reform?
Would you be ok with that as well? Staff should play a neutral role in an organisation when interacting wit patients.
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NPUK said:
Because where do you draw the line..? Any resulting arguments or bad feeling could negatively affect the level of service provided / received, either at the time or subsequently because of time and resources being wasted in defending or protesting someone's stance.

Better for everyone to just keep it professional.
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It's a badge. If it doesn't align with your beliefs, get over it!
 
Marc said:
It's a badge. If it doesn't align with your beliefs, get over it!
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That would be great if everybody saw things that way.... But they don't... and a lot of time, money and resources get wasted because they don't.
 
Marc said:
Why not? I recently spent 3 months in hospital. I saw nurses with union and Pride badges. Did it make any difference to my care? Absolutely not!
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So you dont think someone who is Jewish being treated with a Palestine flag wearing nurse would not maybe make someone uncomfortable, or for that matter a Muslim being treated with a star of david wearing nurse?

There is no NEED to wear political statements, there is no benefit that comes with wearing one, only possible negatives (although I am partial to saying like you, just get over it).
 
My consultant is a Sikh and some of the above comments make me wonder if any of his patients now feel uncomfortable, and FWIW I don't.
 
NPUK said:
That would be great if everybody saw things that way.... But they don't... and a lot of time, money and resources get wasted because they don't.
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As far as I'm concerned, if anyone's that concerned over a badge, that's their problem and no one else's.
cambsno said:
So you dont think someone who is Jewish being treated with a Palestine flag wearing nurse would not maybe make someone uncomfortable, or for that matter a Muslim being treated with a star of david wearing nurse?

There is no NEED to wear political statements, there is no benefit that comes with wearing one, only possible negatives (although I am partial to saying like you, just get over it).
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I'm Jewish, and I'd have no problem with someone wearing a Palestinian flag. My Brother-in-Law is Palestinian, by the way. Plenty of people wear Star of David and Crucifix pendants. Should muslims be offended by those? Would they be more offended if accompanied by a nurse's uniform?
 
Marc said:
As far as I'm concerned, if anyone's that concerned over a badge, that's their problem and no one else's.

I'm Jewish, and I'd have no problem with someone wearing a Palestinian flag. My Brother-in-Law is Palestinian, by the way. Plenty of people wear Star of David and Crucifix pendants. Should muslims be offended by those? Would they be more offended if accompanied by a nurse's uniform?
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In your own time etc then fine. But in a place of work I disagree and it has the potential to cause uneccessary offence/issues. Thats why some pubs for example will not allow colours on matchdays
 
Box Brownie said:
My consultant is a Sikh and some of the above comments make me wonder if any of his patients now feel uncomfortable, and FWIW I don't.
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Really, why would his patients feel uncomfortable. We are not talking about dress or a turban or anything, just symbols that are not needed.
 
cambsno said:
In your own time etc then fine. But in a place of work I disagree and it has the potential to cause uneccessary offence/issues. Thats why some pubs for example will not allow colours on matchdays
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Why is someone more likely to be offended at a place of work?

As for "colours on matchdays", that's for a whole different reason, a lot more understandable.
 
I used to work in a pub in Glasgow. On derby days, we stayed shut!
 
Nod said:
I used to work in a pub in Glasgow. On derby days, we stayed shut!
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I worked for the MOD at HP in Erskine for 3 years as a Contractor and the perms used to tell me when NOT to go to Glasgow at the weekends.
 
Marc said:
It's a badge. If it doesn't align with your beliefs, get over it!
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What about pro-Palestine badges/ brooch flags. From your previous posts it seems that it wouldn't matter. Well it would to most ,if not all Jewish patients...bar you,it seems.

Patients are, generally, in some degree of stress and they don't want staff with political messages being displayed.Hospitals should be a completely neutral environment. That goes for religious items,too.
 
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I don't care if people have tattoos or coloured hair. I don't mind piercings either - my wife has some - but in a hospital setting where people have had surgery or for whatever other reason are susceptible to infection, I would prefer that people with piercings either removed them and cleaned the wound, or covered them with plasters, to avoid any possible cross-infection. I know my wife has to punctiliously clean her piercings regularly, but I know that some people don't. Regarding jewellery, I'm less worried but beyond the basic - wedding ring, a signet ring - I think it's inappropriate to the work environment unless purely clerical staff, non-clinical. I don't think it's professional, in the sense that decorating oneself is not required.
Political emblems are not appropriate in any workplace, for fear of creating argument. Some comments above are along the "just get over it" approach, but not everyone does and one glimpse in the Hot Topics section illustrates that. Most of us probably aren't bothered, but some people will be and some may be caused anxiety over the level of care they receive if they clearly don't align with the advertised allegiance.
 
lindsay said:
I don't care if people have tattoos or coloured hair. I don't mind piercings either - my wife has some - but in a hospital setting where people have had surgery or for whatever other reason are susceptible to infection, I would prefer that people with piercings either removed them and cleaned the wound, or covered them with plasters, to avoid any possible cross-infection. I know my wife has to punctiliously clean her piercings regularly, but I know that some people don't. Regarding jewellery, I'm less worried but beyond the basic - wedding ring, a signet ring - I think it's inappropriate to the work environment unless purely clerical staff, non-clinical. I don't think it's professional, in the sense that decorating oneself is not required.
Political emblems are not appropriate in any workplace, for fear of creating argument. Some comments above are along the "just get over it" approach, but not everyone does and one glimpse in the Hot Topics section illustrates that. Most of us probably aren't bothered, but some people will be and some may be caused anxiety over the level of care they receive if they clearly don't align with the advertised allegiance.
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My bold.

That's exactly what a caller to LBC Radio said this morning. She was sitting in a waiting area in a hospital and was wearing a Pro-Palestine wrist-band..the colours, and she noticed a nurse kept looking at her and at the wrist-band so she took it off and put it into her pocket because she was concerned she might not get the best treatmernt or it was what it should have been but came with an attitude.
 
JohnC6 said:
What about pro-Palestine badges/ brooch flags. From your previous posts it seems that it wouldn't matter. Well it would to most ,if not all Jewish patients...bar you,it seems.

Patients are, generally, in some degree of stress and they don't want staff with political messages being displayed.Hospitals should be a completely neutral environment. That goes for religious items,too.
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I gave you my opinion; you are entitled to yours. As I said, I was in hospital for 3 months following cancer surgery (It was only supposed to be a few days). How stressed do you think I was? Do you really think I gave a flying toss about a Palestinian flag? Pro Palestine doesn't mean pro Hamas btw.
 
cambsno said:
When I had stitches last year, and being the big girls blouse that I am (hate blood and needle phobia), my nurses tattoos were a welcome distraction even though I don’t like them. Gave me something to focus on!
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Yeah.... it was the tattoos... honest... :naughty::D
 
cambsno said:
So you dont think someone who is Jewish being treated with a Palestine flag wearing nurse would not maybe make someone uncomfortable, or for that matter a Muslim being treated with a star of david wearing nurse?

There is no NEED to wear political statements, there is no benefit that comes with wearing one, only possible negatives (although I am partial to saying like you, just get over it).
Click to expand...

Your post reminded me of this:

www.bbc.co.uk

Australian nurses stood down over ‘vile’ antisemitic video

The footage appeared to show the pair threatening to kill and refuse to treat Israeli patients.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
I'm surprised people are defending political symbols in the NHS.

Some people would object to swastikas in a heart beat although the hammer and sickle mob have killed more people. I think banning religious, political and offensive (to some people) paraphernalia is the right move but I'd go further. I'd sack and prosecute the hate merchants telling all viewing on social media how they'd let their hated people of choice die. These people and the tat of their hate filled ideologies have no place in the public sector.
 
woof woof said:
I'm surprised people are defending political symbols in the NHS.

Some people would object to swastikas in a heart beat although the hammer and sickle mob have killed more people. I think banning religious, political and offensive (to some people) paraphernalia is the right move but I'd go further. I'd sack and prosecute the hate merchants telling all viewing on social media how they'd let their hated people of choice die. These people and the tat of their hate filled ideologies have no place in the public sector.
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When i worked at HP in Scotland if i had turned up with pride lanyard I would have got a good kicking in the bogs.
I suspect a Pro Palli wristband would have added an extra headbutt.
 
I don't think it happens in any other workplace - I visited a clients site for a few days this week and no a political badge in sight.

The only anomaly is the pride badge - many companies sponsor it, and many others are big on it, including the NHS. It would feel contradictory if it were banned.
 
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