Claims that a Jewish boy was mistreated at an NHS children’s hospital by nurses wearing pro-Palestine badges and ordered to get off a bed and sit on the floor are being investigated ‘rapidly’, trust chiefs said today.
According to his family, the nine-year-old – who was wearing his kippah skullcap – was ‘kicked out of his bay’ at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital where he was being treated and ‘had to lie on the floor with a cannula in’.
Yet when his parents took him to hospital without wearing anything to indicate that he is Jewish, he received ‘quick care’, the family allege, leaving them fearing he will receive inferior treatment if they do anything to indicate his faith.
In an anguished social media post, the boy’s uncle asks: ‘Is it 1940 again?’, before adding: ‘It is terrifying to be a Jew in the world again.’
Following a complaint from the family, the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region today demanded that the allegation be investigated with ‘extreme urgency’. In response, the trust which runs the hospital said it was ‘rapidly investigating’.
According to his family, the nine-year-old – who was wearing his kippah skullcap – was ‘kicked out of his bay’ at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (pictured) where he was being treated for a blood disorder
It comes amid record levels of reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK last year, with 4,103 recorded by the Community Security Trust charity – two-thirds of them since October 7.
Israeli forces have faced fierce criticism for repeated raids on hospitals in Gaza, including this week.
They insist the raids are ‘precision’ operations targeting terrorists using medical buildings as cover.
Sharing pictures of his nephew on a hospital bed and then on the floor in an online post yesterday, the boy’s uncle – originally from Britain but now living in Israel – wrote that the incident ‘made my blood boil’.
‘As a religious Jewish family, my nephew wears his black Kippa (yamulka, religious hat whatever you want to call it) and his tzitzit proudly. Not today. Why you ask?
‘The nurses (NHS employees) are all walking around wearing ‘Free Palestine’ pins and he was scared.
‘Beyond that, the last few times he went in he was denied correct medical care by the same couple of nurses every time.’
The uncle wrote that on his last visit to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) his nephew was ‘kicked out of his bay, by one of the nurses who was covered in Pro-Palestine badges and stickers, and due to that, had to lie on the floor with a cannula in’.
He added: ‘Now the damage is done and my proudly Jewish nephew (and his parents) is scared to not get treatment if he wears his Kippa and tzitzit.
‘Coincidentally, today when not visibly Jewish, he received quick care. Also worth noting, prior to the conflict he received excellent care.
‘What the actual f*** is going on? Is this the world we will live in? Is it 1940 again? It is terrifying to be a Jew in the world again.’
The uncle added that ‘public medical healthcare professionals shouldn’t be wearing political pins that make people/children, scared/nervous/worry’.
Asking people to share his post, he concluded: ‘Maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference and another kid doesn’t have to endure this.’
The tzitzit is a knotted fringe or tassels worn by observant Jews.
In response to the ‘serious allegation’, Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, today wrote to RMCH chief executive Stephen Dickson asking for the family’s claims to be investigated ‘as a matter of extreme urgency’.
‘They allege that this child, who is a religious Jew and clearly visible as such, was mistreated by several nurses who were wearing Free Palestine badges in the outpatients department of Ward […],’ Mr Levy wrote.
‘Part of this mistreatment includes a failure to administer proper treatment and being removed from his cubicle and having to sit on the floor.
‘This child now feels terrified to return to hospital unless he hides his Jewish identity.’
His letter continues: ‘This is naturally hugely concerning that a Jewish family have been targeted due to the conflict in the Middle East.
‘We are sure you will agree that it is imperative all patients are treated the same irrespective of their race or religion.
‘This could have catastrophic repercussions for the Jewish community if they were to feel that they are not safe attending your hospital.’
Mr Levy also asks what the trust’s policy is on NHS staff wearing ‘political statements’ such as pro-Palestine badges on their uniforms, saying it risks making Jewish patients feel ‘intimidated and unsure if they will receive equal and correct treatment. This is unacceptable.’
A Community Security Trust spokesman said: ‘These allegations are very serious. We urge the hospital to urgently investigate them and take appropriate action.’
In a statement, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs RMCH, said: ‘We are aware of images and very serious claims which are circulating on social media.
‘We are rapidly investigating these to establish the situation and are discussing them with the family involved.
‘Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is committed to providing high quality care to all of their patients.’