A receptionist at a private Birmingham hospital, wearing a Palestine badge, has been told that disciplinary action will be taken if she wears it again.

All staff at HCA Harborne Hospital have been reminded of the dress code policy which does not allow political badges to be worn. This follows a letter from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) to the Chief Executive of HCA Healthcare UK after a hospital patient had been very disturbed by this political gesture which is completely out of place in a healthcare setting.

UKLFI pointed out that wearing a Palestine flag badge signifies support for the Palestinian cause. If this badge is being worn post 7 October 2023, since Hamas launched its horrific attack on Israel, slaughtering 1200 people and taking hostage a further 240, this symbol can also be seen as a way of supporting the designated terrorist group Hamas.

John Reay, President and Chief Executive Officer of HCA Healthcare UK told UKLFI “ The receptionist was found to have been wearing an inappropriate pin. They have been spoken to as have all of the staff at the Harborne and reminded of our dress code policy. It has been made clear that any further breach of this policy will result in disciplinary action. We have reviewed our induction procedures …… We have ensured that the policy will be presented in a clear manner that cannot be misunderstood going forward.

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are pleased that HCA Healthcare is ensuring that its staff will not be demonstrating their political allegiances during work time and understands the distress that this can cause to its patients.”