The joyful affair of bringing a new baby into the world turned sour for a Jewish couple at University College London Hospital (UCLH), when the nurse attending them used the occasion to spread her political ideology.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) have accused the nurse of breaching the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulations and the Equality Act 2010.

The nurse on duty for the planned c-section was wearing several obvious pro-Palestinian symbols, including a watermelon lanyard, a Palestinian flag on her wrist-watch, a Palestinian-themed, heart-shaped badge and an inverted triangle badge with a keffiyeh pattern.

“The individual was making a very clear and conscious statement about her political beliefs,” the husband told UKLFI . “It is a very uncomfortable position to be in, when those who are entrusted with your family’s health and wellbeing hold views that are so blatantly hostile to the Jewish people.”

UKLFI wrote to the chief executive of the UCLH NHS Foundation Trust pointing out that  the display of such items indicates strong support for the Palestinian cause, and conversely, opposition to the State of Israel . The husband said that he felt that, given what the nurse was wearing, she may also believe the blood libel that Jews/Israelis are baby killers. He felt afraid to think that this was a nurse that was about to take part in a c-section to deliver a new Jewish baby into the world.

“We are not necessarily obviously identifiable as Jewish,” he said, “but I questioned whether she knew or suspected it and if we would be treated any differently as a consequence.”

UKLFI’s letter explained that UCLH was likely to have  breached Section 29 of the Equality Act, because the conduct of the nurse in wearing pro-Palestine accessories at work constituted harassment as defined in the Act, by creating a hostile and intimidating atmosphere for Jewish and Israeli patients.

A spokesperson for UKLFI commented: “We believe that it  is inappropriate for hospital staff to express their political views by flaunting a whole panoply of pro-Palestine paraphernalia while at work providing medical services to patients of all faiths and ethnicities.  They should be concentrating on providing care to their patients, not taking advantage of their vulnerabilities to impose their unwanted opinions on them, in breach of their professional regulations.   We have asked UCLH to confirm that it will ensure that all staff are instructed not to wear political symbols while at work and to focus on caring for their patients.”