Campaign Against Antisemitism has today launched a set of groundbreaking policy recommendations to tackle anti-Jewish racism in the health sector.
The policy recommendations follow the ‘Malignant: Antisemitism in the NHS’ documentary, which presented first-hand accounts of the devastating impact of rampant antisemitism in Britain’s healthcare system, along with representative polling of the Jewish community conducted by Campaign Against Antisemitism, showing:
- A clear majority of British Jews would be concerned about not receiving equal care because they are Jewish.
- One third of British Jews who have used the NHS since 7th October 2023 say that they were uncomfortable due to their Jewish identity.
- More than four in ten British Jews who have used the NHS since 7th October 2023 took steps to hide their Jewish identity.
The anecdotal evidence presented in our film, together with the empirical data provided by our polling, demonstrates the magnitude and severity of this institutional crisis.
The NHS touches us all at times in our life when we are the most vulnerable. This crisis requires a wide-ranging response that addresses the growing extremist culture within healthcare, the abysmal failure of regulation, the shocking lack of transparency and the total absence of accountability.
Our recommendations, accompanied by a sample of case studies further illustrating the range of problems, present the necessary, wide-ranging policy response to this crisis.
The recommendations are grouped under four headings:
- Depoliticisation
- Definition and training
- Transparency
- Accountability
In each section, we delve deeper into the problems of antisemitism in healthcare and how policymakers can put an end to it – no ifs, no buts.
These include:
- New rules on dress code in medical settings, to prevent division and intimidation
- Reasonable restrictions on medical practitioners when it comes to political campaigning, to restore faith in the profession and sector
- Adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism throughout the medical system, and applying it when allegations arise
- Faster investigations and tougher sanctions by regulators instead of lengthy investigations that fail to punish bad behaviour
- Accountability for the immense regulatory failure that has brought us to this point
- Cracking down on foreign nationals who are found guilty of antisemitic conduct.
- And more.
We also call for an urgent inquiry by the Health and Social Care Committee to further probe the horrific antisemitism in our NHS.
You can read the full policy recommendations here.
Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Our documentary exposed the antisemitic rot at the heart of the NHS, exposing radicalised doctors and nurses operating with impunity in hospitals across the country, making Jewish colleagues and patients understandably feel unsafe and bringing the profession into disrepute.
“We know that sunlight on the problem is a vital first step, but Britain needs solutions too. That’s why we’ve produced a comprehensive list of policy recommendations that will tackle the rampant Jew-hate in our healthcare system.
“Our recommendations make it much harder for extremists to flaunt their ideology, and will root out the culture of hate in the NHS. We are calling on the Health and Social Care Committee to hold an urgent hearing, and the Government, along with the NHS and regulators, should urgently implement our recommendations. Only that way can we begin to turn the tide on rampant antisemitism in British healthcare.”
If you would like to speak to Campaign Against Antisemitism on policy matters, please e-mail us at [email protected].
