NHS staff may be banned from wearing political badges to tackle antisemitism

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.

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.

Other recommendations made by Lord Mann include stronger accountability for NHS managers, improved recording and monitoring of racist incidents, and enabling more patients to record their ethnicity as Jewish.

Dangerous for health

Last year, the former Labour MP was tasked by the government with looking into ways patients can be protected from racism, following reports of antisemitism perpetrated by NHS doctors.

The report was one of several independent reviews of antisemitism in different sectors, which were commissioned in the wake of the fatal attack at Heaton Park Synagogue, in Manchester, in October 2025.

Lord Mann told the BBC: "The NHS should not be a place where you bring in your views. And the stronger the views, the bigger the problem."

"An 'I support Palestine' badge, or anything like that, is a problem for some people, just in the same way as an 'I support Israel' badge is a problem for some people. Don't wear either," he added.

"If you're fearful at what they [medical professionals] are wearing as a political symbolism, then that could be dangerous in terms of health outcomes."

A Jewish A&E doctor in England, who did not want to be named, told the BBC she had felt uncomfortable seeing colleagues wearing pro-Palestinian badges.

"The public should have trust in healthcare professionals and if you express political opinions, it can undermine that trust," she said.

The recommendation on political badges is expected to be adopted by NHS England, subject to a consultation. It has been conducting its own, separate review of uniform policy, which was last updated in 2020.

The government has previously said that the new workwear guidance will protect freedom of religious expression.

It is understood that Lord Mann will also recommend that NHS staff should not wear uniform at certain protests.

Lord Mann's report found evidence of what it described as "routine ostracism" of Jewish staff in the NHS.

"People are leaving and have left the NHS because of that," Lord Mann added. "There are people who are very quietly whispering it to me that they've made life changes, career changes, because of the ostracisation they've had for being Jewish."

The report raises concerns about some cases where Jewish patients are avoiding seeking care altogether due to fears they might experience antisemitism.

"There are people who are not getting the NHS service that they need. The perception amongst the Jewish community is that people have been having bad experiences," Lord Mann said.

"That can be catastrophic if [they] choose to put off the appointment."

'Action not words'

Health Secretary James Murray said the government, which is responsible for the NHS in England, would accept the recommendations in full.

He said: "I know that Jewish people – and everyone experiencing discrimination – need action not words. Together with NHS England, we will waste no time in setting these recommendations in motion to build a health service that lives up to its values."

A spokesperson for the Jewish Medical Association said antisemitism must be "taken seriously", adding: "We would support the banning of political symbols including flags and symbols of any country. We wouldn't want it to be discriminatory in any way."

Some NHS trusts already prohibit staff from wearing symbols that could be perceived as political, citing a need to create a safe and inclusive environment for patients.

However, two doctors and a nurse have launched legal action against Barts Health NHS Trust, in London, arguing that its dress code policy unlawfully discriminates against them because of their pro-Palestinian beliefs.

Prof Andrew Eder, chair of trustees of the UK's Jewish Dental Society, told the BBC that antisemitic incidents in dentistry have spiked since the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza.

"Antisemitism goes right through the profession, whether you are a dental student, practitioner, or patient. I've been in practice for 40 years and I've never experienced this before at this level, with social media being a particular challenge," he said.

Reacting to the report, Karen Newman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "Our public services must set the standard for confronting anti-Jewish hatred and discrimination, and we must ensure the NHS, one of our proudest national institutions, is safe and welcoming for every staff member or service user, regardless of faith or ethnicity."

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."