NHS staff have been encouraged by top management to fast for Ramadan, to display 'allyship' with Muslim colleagues.
The 'NHS Ramadan Challenge' called on NHS staff to join Muslims in fasting during the Islamic holy month in a poster circulated to NHS staff.
The poster included a message from NHS Chief Strategy Officer Chris Hopson, also the 'Executive Sponsor' of the NHS Muslim Network, who wrote: "I am pleased to be taking part in the #NHSRamadanChallenge, to show my allyship to all our Muslim colleagues in the NHS.
"I am doing so to create awareness of this holy month for Muslims and to thank our Muslim colleagues in the NHS for all their efforts and hard work."
One of Britain's highest paid civil servants in 2022, Hopson finished by calling on staff to "join me in showing allyship to our Muslim colleagues - one idea would be for you to fast for a day of your choice in Ramadan".
On why staff should take part, the poster, created by the NHS Muslim Network, read: "[You should] take part to understand and experience how Muslims feel when they are fasting for Ramadan.
NHS staff were told to fast for Ramadan to 'understand and experience how Muslims feel'
GB NEWS
"It's a great way to show allyship, gratitude, and to experience what the less fortunate go through."
The poster was published in 2023. Hopson also spoke at the Network's Eid Al Fitr event at the end of Ramadan, attended by other senior NHS figures.
The NHS allows its staff to band together and form 'staff networks'. The NHS Muslim Network is one such initiative. Each network must find a sponsor among NHS Executives, with Hopson being theirs.
Its stated vision is of "inspiring, celebrating and championing the contribution of the NHS Muslim community" and among its stated aims are "increasing awareness about Islam/Muslims within the NHS and challenging Islamophobia".
The Network provides a support package for Muslim members of staff, which includes talent development webinars, career development support, allyship webinars, a 'How to be a better Muslim' series, Islamic support and events.
GB News has revealed a guide produced by the Network, which detailed the process of conversion to Islam for 'New Muslims' was circulated among NHS staff.
NHS Chief Strategy Officer Chris Hopson said he was taking part in Ramadan 'to show my allyship to all our Muslim colleagues in the NHS'
NHS
Chris Hopson said he watned to 'create awareness of this holy month for Muslims and to thank our Muslim colleagues in the NHS'
GB NEWS
The NHS Muslim Network have published other guidance, including a guide named 'New to Hijab', 'A basic guide to Islam' and a guide to 'Allyship' for colleagues who are not Muslim.
The group has received at least £2,655 in 2022/23 in public money, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed. GB News awaits further information on any funds it may have received in other years.
The Network is ran by NHS staff who are allocated 'protected time' away from their regular duties to work on it. The NHS recommends a minimum of two days a month for this.
In a message to the NHS Muslim Network's membership for Eid 2024, Chris Hopson congratulated the Network for "growing the membership", remarking on how they had "outgrown" their event venues.
He told the Network "I love working with you", then congratulated them for "incorporating allies" (non-Muslim members of staff) to help expand the Network and further its aims.
The NHS waiting list had reached nearly 7.5 million by December 2024, which consisted of 6.2 million patients across Britain. Of those, more than three million had been waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.
The Network is ran by NHS staff who are allocated 'protected time' away from their regular duties to work on it
GB NEWS
In response to these revelations about the New Muslim Guidance, reverse mentoring scheme and the Network's events, NHS England said: "Senior NHS England managers regularly engage with staff across the entire NHS workforce to hear and understand their experiences of working in the NHS, in order to provide better care for patients.
"We are a diverse country and that is reflected in the NHS workforce - it’s vital that we make sure all our staff feel included so we can recruit and retain an NHS workforce that is as productive as possible."
The NHS Muslim Network is under new leadership who claim they were unaware of the guidance. The Network says it is reviewing its guidance and developing a new strategy to support Muslim colleagues across the NHS.
On the NHS Ramadan Challenge, NHS England said: “It is obviously entirely reasonable for NHS staff to take part in Ramadan if they would like to – including as a way to recognise the tens of thousands of Muslims working in the health service.”
