Latest news with #WhippsCross
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Senior NHS nurse who was told to remove 'anti-Semitic fruit bowl' from video call background launches legal action
A British-Palestinian NHS nurse who says he was told to remove a background on his video calls because it could be perceived as 'anti Semitic' has launched legal action against his employer. Ahmad Baker, a senior nurse, claims hospital bosses complained about the image of a fruit bowl containing watermelons - which have been adopted as a symbol of Palestine. Barts Health NHS trust, which runs Whipps Cross hospital in north London where Mr Baker works, has banned staff from displaying symbols seen as politically or nationally affiliated. The ban was introduced in March this year and applies to uniform, workstations, laptops and iPads. However, Mr Baker and two other members of staff have argued that the measures are disproportionate and discriminatory to those with pro-Palestinian beliefs. He claims he was threatened with disciplinary action for displaying the watermelon symbols on his wallpaper as they could be seen as 'anti Semitic'. Mr Baker told The Guardian: 'As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. 'Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting. 'I've worked for the NHS for over a decade – this is not the inclusivity I thought we stood for.' Mr Baker has launched the legal action alongside other trust employees Dr Aarash Saleh, a respiratory consultant at Whipps Cross, and Dr Sara Ali, a haematology registrar. The group is arguing that the policy amounts to indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and is disproportionate to those with pro-Palestinian beliefs. They have also pointed to the fact that Barts Health NHS trust has openly supported Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The group have started a CrowdJustice page to help them raise money to fight the case. More than £16,000 has already been raised of a £50,000 target. On the page they wrote: This legal case is about how senior executives at Barts Health NHS Trust have imposed a new uniform policy to ban any visible expressions of support for Palestinians as they suffer unprecedented potentially amounting to a genocide. 'Barts Health's decision has followed direct pressure from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a pro-Israel lobby group. 'Please support us in opposing this discriminatory policy which contravenes NHS core values and basic rights of expression.' A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS trust said: 'We recognise the distress that global conflict has for our diverse workforce and continue to support their wellbeing as they serve our patients. 'However, as an NHS organisation our primary responsibility is care for patients.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS nurse ordered to remove ‘antisemitic' video of watermelon launches legal action
A senior NHS nurse who says he was ordered to remove his video with a background showing a fruit bowl containing a watermelon because it could be perceived as antisemitic has launched legal action against his employer. Ahmad Baker, who is British-Palestinian and works at Whipps Cross hospital, north London, is one of three medical staff claiming Barts Health NHS trust's ban on staff displaying symbols perceived as politically or nationally affiliated is disproportionate and discriminatory. Watermelons became symbols of Palestine amid censorship of the Palestinian flag because of its similar colours. Barts, which runs five London hospitals, introduced the ban in March in its updated uniform and dress code policy, which extends to items on workstations, laptops and iPads, even if staff are working from home and not seeing patients. The policy says it is in keeping with the trust's responsibility to be 'completely apolitical and non-biased in our care', but the claimants point to Barts' support for Ukraine. Baker said: 'As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting. 'I've worked for the NHS for over a decade – this is not the inclusivity I thought we stood for.' Baker, along with Dr Aarash Saleh, a respiratory consultant at Whipps Cross, and Dr Sara Ali, a haematology registrar who previously worked at the Royal London hospital, claim the policy amounts to indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, disproportionately affecting staff who wish to express pro-Palestinian beliefs, particularly considering events in Gaza. They also say that it say it unlawfully discriminates against them because of their anti-Zionist views, which were found to be a protected belief under the Equality Act by an employment tribunal last year. Baker has also raised separate claims of direct discrimination and harassment. Ali said: 'To suggest that expressing support for the Palestinians who are facing one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in recent history is somehow threatening, after the trust had rightly expressed support for Ukraine, is not only manifestly discriminatory but is antithetical to the values of universal empathy and compassion that underpin our practice as healthcare workers.' A letter before action sent on behalf of the healthcare staff by Liana Wood from the law firm Leigh Day also argues that there was 'inappropriate consultation' with a pro-Israel advocacy group, while sidelining internal staff voices. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), having complained to the trust about pro-Palestinian symbols worn by staff, published an article on its website about the new policy eight days before it was officially implemented. Saleh said: 'It's especially troubling that UKLFI publicly announced the policy before the trust itself had communicated it to staff – this raises serious concerns about transparency and whose voices were prioritised in the process.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The medics, who are crowdfunding their legal costs on the CrowdJustice platform, are seeking the removal of key provisions of the policy, a declaration from the employment tribunal that discrimination has taken place, and compensation for injury to feelings they have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the policy. Wood said: 'Trusts must take care not to impose disproportionate restrictions on expression, especially where those restrictions appear to be targeted at a specific group or belief.' A spokesperson for Barts said: 'We recognise the distress that global conflict has for our diverse workforce and continue to support their wellbeing as they serve our patients. However, as an NHS organisation our primary responsibility is care for patients.' They said the policy aimed to 'uphold political neutrality, creating an inclusive culture at work, and a safe space for patients in their time of need'.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
London hospital buildings in unacceptable state
Looking around the dilapidated wards of Hillingdon Hospital in north-west London, Health minister Karin Smyth says she "knows people deserve better services"."I'm from Hillingdon, so I really do understand the difficulties that staff are working in here," she told BBC was the only London trust to get the go-ahead for a new hospital as part of the current New Hospital Programme. Ms Smyth said the state of hospital buildings across London was "unacceptable".London's hospitals have been given about £160m of emergency cash from an Estates Safety Fund to try to keep them running until they can be replaced, but trusts say the money is not enough to cover the repairs needed. Ms Smyth said: "We know there's been disappointment, a lot of delays, but this new government has got on with the review - we want to see this got on with now."She added: "When we came in as a new government last July, there wasn't funding for any of these schemes beyond March."We understand the disappointment in other communities - but we have sought to put this programme now on a firm financial footing for the first time. That didn't happen before." Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, is not dissimilar to DeGaris, the chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust, described it as having "really substandard facilities".It was due to be rebuilt by 2026, but following a review of the New Hospitals Programme, the work has been delayed. Now the only part to be rebuilt before 2033 is the car trust estimates the delays to rebuilding the hospital will cost £200m. At St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, walls are crumbling around government has delayed the building of a new hospital there until 2035. In the meantime, the hospital's trust has been given £25m from the government for repairs to energy systems, electrical systems, water systems, ventilation systems, fire safety works and drainage works. But this must be shared between St Mary's, Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals. The trust estimates it will spend over £100m on repairs at St Mary's Hospital alone until it is rebuilt. St Helier Hospital, in south London, was given the go-ahead for a new hospital in 2020, but that has now been delayed until 2033. The hospital, which opened in 1941, recently reported having to knock down a ward due to sinking foundations and windows falling trust that runs it, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Our ageing hospitals are deteriorating faster than we can fix them."It estimates the costs of the delays to upgrades needed to both St Helier, and Epsom hospitals will amount to an additional £150m a has been given £12m as part of the Estates Safety Fund. Last month, Ken Welch, former director of facilities, estates and supplies at St Helier Hospital, said the condition of the buildings raised serious concerns."I've seen a lot in 30 years working in the NHS, but the condition of the buildings at St Helier is among the worst," he said."I'm seriously concerned about the risk of fire, particularly with the growing use of corridor care. But most of all, I'm worried about the safety of the patients."
