UK bans NHS staff from wearing political badges in crackdown on anti-Semitism

Britain’s National Health Service will ban staff from wearing political badges containing pro-Palestinian symbols under new rules aimed at combating anti-Semitism in the healthcare system.

Health Secretary James Murray said on Thursday the NHS would accept the recommendations made by Lord John Mann’s independent review.

He said guidance would be released “soon.”

The announcement comes shortly after a Jewish doctor in London told ITV News that colleagues had told him they would not treat patients from Israel even if their lives were at risk. According to The Jewish Chronicle, England’s Department of Health called the comments “shocking” and said it was “unacceptable that people do not currently feel safe to work and use health services.”

Mann was appointed in October 2025 to lead a review of how the NHS and its regulatory system reports and deals with antisemitism and other forms of racism. The Department of Health and Social Care said in a press release that it issued the report “following a series of horrific attacks on Jewish communities across the country, including shocking instances of intimidation and abuse within the health service.”

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A report published last year by the Anti-Semitism Policy Trust found that 99 incidents of anti-Semitism were recorded in the healthcare sector between October 2023 and July 2025.

Mann’s review found that some Jewish NHS staff reported “routine ostracism” and increased discrimination from colleagues, leading some Jewish staff to consider leaving the health service.

It also raised concerns among Jewish patients, some of whom said they delayed or avoided treatment due to fear of discrimination or a lack of cultural safety in the medical environment.

Example: British healthcare workers in hospital (iStock by Getty Images)

Under the reforms, the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care will introduce mandatory antisemitism training for senior leaders, as well as updated equality, diversity and human rights training for around 1.5 million staff, including specific content on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility.

New national guidance will also be published on uniform policies, the use of NHS-issued equipment and how trusts should respond to racist behavior by both staff and members of the public.

It is not yet clear which symbols will be banned under the new law.

The new NHS staff standards, which focus on tackling racism, set minimum expectations for prevention, response and learning across the organisation.

Speaking to journalists, Murray said allowing staff to display political symbols in healthcare settings risks undermining trust and dissuading some patients from seeking care.

“If a situation arises where political views can be reflected in the NHS, it may cause Jewish patients to think again about whether they go to the NHS for treatment,” he told local media.

The government said it would work with regulators to align definitions and approaches to racism across the system. Ministers will report to parliament on progress by October 2026, with a full update within 12 months of publication.

British Houses of Parliament (iStock by Getty Photos)

The Council of Representatives of British Jews welcomed the plan, noting that it had been pushing for many of the measures included in the report for a long time.

Karen Newman, deputy leader of the House of Commons, said in a statement: “Our public services must set standards to tackle anti-Semitic hate and discrimination and ensure that the NHS, one of our proudest national institutions, is safe and welcoming for all staff or service users, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.”

The Jewish Leadership Council also applauded the report, calling it “an important moment to address this crisis from the heart of Britain’s vital institutions.” But regulators warned they must take responsibility for fighting hate alongside the NHS.

“We have seen doctors describe hospitals as cesspits of ‘Jewish supremacy’ and praise Hamas as a ‘legend,’” the JLI said in a statement. “The NHS must be accountable for the actions of its staff, but regulators must also recognize their role and take up recommendations for staff.”

The Jewish Medical Association also responded warmly, citing Mann’s “thoughtful approach to instilling cultural awareness and ensuring accountability across the NHS”.

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