Hospital bans Union f lag from staff uniforms
A HOSPITAL has banned its staff from wearing the Union flag on their uniforms after a member of the public simply commented on them.
Security guards at the Bristol Royal Infirmary stuck the patches displaying the national flag on their stab vests.
But now all 12 of the guards have received an e-mail telling them to remove the badges with immediate effect as it breaches NHS uniform policy. The blue flags worn by the guards resembled those sold in aid of the Care of Police Survivors charity, which is dedicated to helping families of police officers who have been killed whilst on duty.
The badges rose to prominence two weeks ago when many police officers donned them in tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who was murdered in the Westminster terror attack.
The University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust confirmed staff had been asked to remove the flags after they were brought to bosses’ attention.
A spokesman said: ‘A member of the public commended the security staff on how well they dealt with a difficult incident and asked about a Union Jack patch that they had on their uniforms as they had not seen it before on an NHS uniform. Our trust policy says that uniforms cannot be altered or personalised and that only professional badge adornments are permitted. Security staff were therefore reminded of this and asked to remove any nonauthorised badges or symbols from their uniforms.’
But a hospital source said: ‘It’s an insult to the British people that they are having to be taken off. All the security staff are upset about it.’