The University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH Trust) has confirmed that posters bearing inflammatory political messages about Israel have been removed from hospital premises following a complaint received by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
The posters, which accused Israel of atrocities in Gaza and included the phrase "Zionism is Poison," were discovered within the hospital by a patient undergoing major tests. The patient, who is Jewish, reported feeling "vulnerable and scared" upon seeing the posters, expressing distress that she had to hide her Star of David necklace during the visit.
According to the Trust, all posters were promptly removed upon discovery last week, and a full walk-through was conducted by senior staff to ensure no others remained. In addition, the department’s newsletter addressed the matter, reminding employees of the hospital's policy prohibiting the display of political messages. Security staff have also been instructed to remain alert for similar incidents.
Chief Executive of UCLH Trust, David Probert, issued an apology to UKLFI, stating: "Firstly, I would like to apologise on behalf of UCLH for the distress and upset caused by these posters. At UCLH, we value diversity and inclusivity, and we are committed to providing a fair and non-discriminatory service to all individuals, regardless of background."
Probert affirmed that disciplinary measures would be taken if those responsible for putting up the posters were identified.
Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, welcomed the Trust’s swift response: "UCLH is a major London hospital, frequented by people from all of London’s diverse communities, but it’s particularly close to major north London Jewish communities. Irrespective of their background, any person must feel comfortable and safe in a hospital setting. We welcome UCLH’s prompt, proactive, and constructive engagement with this issue."
The posters promoted several Instagram accounts, including one linked to Anas Al-Sharif, recently identified by the IDF as a leader in a Hamas rocket-launching squad.
UKLFI says it has received assurances that any similar posters will be taken down immediately in the future, and that appropriate action will be taken to maintain a neutral and respectful environment for all patients.