Nurse in row over 'antisemitic' watermelon takes legal action

A senior NHS nurse who says he was ordered to remove a background used on his video calls showing a fruit bowl containing a watermelon because it could be perceived as antisemitic has launched legal action against his employer.

- Haroon Siddique

Ahmad Baker, who is British-Palestinian and works at Whipps Cross hospital, east London, is one of three medical staff claiming that Barts Health NHS trust's ban on staff displaying symbols perceived as politically or nationally affiliated is disproportionate and discriminatory.

Watermelons became symbols of Palestine amid censorship of the Palestinian flag because of its similar colours.

Barts, which runs five London hospitals, introduced the ban in March in its updated uniform and dress code policy, which extends to items on work stations, laptops and iPads, even if staff are working from home and not seeing patients.

The policy says it is in keeping with the trust's responsibility to be "completely apolitical and non-biased in our care" but the claimants point to Barts' support for Ukraine.