In the wake of a recent protest at Daisy Hill Hospital, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has raised concerns regarding the use of NHS uniforms during political demonstrations.
The incident involved hospital staff posing in their uniforms outside the building, holding posters with images captioned “Starved by Israel.”
Gaston highlighted the disparity between Northern Ireland and Great Britain regarding policies on NHS uniform usage. In England, the NHS Uniforms and Workwear guidance explicitly prohibits wearing uniforms in contexts that could bring the health service into disrepute or imply endorsement of political causes. This guidance mandates that uniforms be strictly reserved for professional settings.
However, Gaston pointed out the absence of similar policies in Northern Ireland. He noted that the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s Dress Code Policy focuses on hygiene and safety but remains silent on the political use of uniforms. This inconsistency, he argues, raises serious questions about the uniformity of policy across the United Kingdom.
“Given the potential for such actions to undermine public confidence in the impartiality of the health service, and to risk reputational damage by creating the impression of institutional endorsement of partisan causes, there is an urgent need for clarity,” Gaston stated.
In response to this incident, Gaston has tabled written questions to the Health Minister, urging a review and harmonisation of policies to prevent future occurrences that could compromise the perceived neutrality of the NHS.