NHS Trust slammed after email newsletter urged staff not to attend ‘inappropriate’ anti-Semitism awareness training session – prompting desperate apology for egregious ‘error’

Jewish organisations last night slammed an NHS Trust after an email urged its staff to boycott antisemitism awareness training.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provoked outrage after it published a statement in its weekly newsletter warning staff ‘not to attend’ an ‘inappropriate’ session led by the Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT).

The APT training aims to educate people about the ‘modern manifestations’ of antisemitism, which includes discussion on how it presents itself in dialogue around Israel and Palestine. 

An email — sent by an employee from the Trust’s diversity team — followed a handful of complaints about the APT made via the Black Minority Ethnic network. 

Claire Murdoch, chief executive of the Trust, interrupted her holiday to personally telephone the head of the APT and apologise for the egregious ‘error’.

In an email seen by the Daily Mail, she told staff that the statement about the training had been made in ‘error’ after it had not ‘gone through our usual sign-off process’.

She added: ‘I have asked that colleagues look into how such a message was communicated in error and we will get to the bottom of it.

‘There have been a small number of concerns raised by some individuals via the BAME network with the Trust about the antisemitism training.

‘This will be properly investigated – which is the right and proper thing to do – and will be shared both with the APT and NHS England.

‘I have personally telephoned the chief executive of APT this morning to apologise for what I can only describe as poor process and error on our part.’

The initial notice about the planned training was added to the Trust’s weekly newsletter by the employee.

It stated: ‘We have become aware of concerns regarding the antisemitism training that was recently advertised.

‘We have determined that this training and its content may be inappropriate.

‘For this reason we advise all staff members not to attend.’

It is unclear if the person responsible for adding the statement to the newsletter will face any disciplinary action or will be required to attend the antisemitism training themselves.

Complaints were raised over the APT training, which aims to educate people about the ‘modern manifestations’ of antisemitism – including discussion on how it presents itself in dialogue around Israel and Palestine 

Campaign Against Antisemitism said ‘clearly there are people within the medical industry who are uncomfortable with learning – or other people learning – about certain contemporary manifestations of anti-Jewish racism.’ Pictured: Tens of thousands gathered to march against antisemitism in London last November

An APT spokesman said: ‘We are pleased that the Trust has now endorsed our training and encouraged its members to attend, and we were grateful for the apology we received.

‘As anti-Jewish racism continues to rise, it is vital that people have the tools to identify and challenge it.’

The APT has already run the 90-minute training session for NHS England twice before.

During the training — which is scheduled to take place today — they aim to educate people about the ‘modern manifestations’ of antisemitism, which includes discussion about how it presents itself in discussions around Israel and Palestine.

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism added: ‘There is a growing and scandalous trend of scepticism and even pushback within NHS trusts in London against antisemitism training by reputable providers.

‘Clearly there are people within the medical industry who are uncomfortable with learning – or other people learning – about certain contemporary manifestations of anti-Jewish racism. 

‘That is a frightening prospect for Jewish patients and staff.’

A sticker of a Palestine flag with the slogan ‘Jews are the scum of the earth’ is displayed in London in October last year

A poster of Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, is daubed with swastikas

A spokesman for Central and North West London NHS Trust said: ‘We will be working with our BAME network and colleagues to ensure that our training and awareness offers on Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all kinds of racial, cultural and religious intolerance, is of a high quality across the organisation to help maintain the highest possible quality of patient care in our communities.’

NHS England has been approached for comment.