{UAH} NHS referred 420 staff and patients over 'radicalisation'
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Afuwa Kasule/Robert Atuhairwe,
Here is a very difficult ethical issue that our medics face in the UK
today. The governtment has come up with a strategy, which it calls
PREVENT which imposes a duty on public bodies to 'prevent
radicalisation' as part of its agenda to tackle extremism, which
drives most of terrorism in the UK. In practice, what this means is
that the medical, teaching, sicial work professions have to report
their clients, customers or patients if they suspect they are involved
in terrorism or are vulnerable to radicalisation. Many doctors have
refused to participate in the PREVENT startegy, claiming it
contreadicts the hyppocratic oath of doctor-patient confidentiality.
One of the reasons government has imposed a duty on public bodies to
be at the forefront of the fight agaonst terrorism is because the
MUslim Community itself is in most cases unwilling to cooperate with
the authorities. They never report any terrorist activities, even if
they are being planned oenly in the mosques. Myethical dilemma is: To
fight terrosim requires good intelligence, and this can only
beobtrained from the Mualim community. It behoves therefore that the
Muslim community has to be convinced to be on the side of peace and
democracy and against terrorism. But what if they refuse, as seems to
be the case in the UK, and many other countries in the world? Is the
curtailment of civil liberies justified in the circumstances?
Bobby
NHS referred 420 staff and patients over 'radicalisation'
By Ruth Evans
The NHS referred 420 patients and staff to police in England and Wales
in a year over concerns they were at risk of radicalisation, the BBC
has learned.
National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) figures show an average of 35
referrals a month in the year to July 2016 - up from 21 a month the
previous year.
Since July 2015, public bodies have a legal duty to report people
considered at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
The government says its Prevent programme safeguards people at risk.
BBC Radio 5 live used a Freedom of Information request to obtain the
figures from the NPCC, which said that, following assessment, one in
10 were found to be vulnerable to radicalisation and offered support.
Those referred undergo an initial assessment and may then be
considered by a multi-agency "Channel panel", chaired by the local
authority.
If the person is considered to be at risk, they would be offered a
mentor and counselling, as part of the Channel programme, a
de-radicalisation process that uses psychologists, social workers and
religious experts.
Health professionals have previously voiced concerns over referrals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists warned patients might be less
willing to access mental health treatment and questioned the "the
variable quality" of evidence underpinning the Prevent strategy.
Some doctors have also said they fear some psychiatric patients have
been referred inappropriately.
'Paranoid feelings'
One former healthcare assistant, who asked not to be named, told the
BBC that she was referred to Prevent by colleagues after she started
wearing a headscarf at work.
She said she was called to a meeting with safeguarding nurses and a
Prevent police officer, and told that allegations had been made by
colleagues concerned about some of her social media posts.
She said one photo she shared showed so-called Islamic State members
praying in opposite directions because "if they claim to be Muslim,
surely they'd know where Mecca is?"
One former healthworker says her referral by colleagues forced her out
of her job
After the meeting, she was told there were no concerns but several
weeks later two Prevent officers paid an unannounced visit to her home
and asked the same questions.
She said she explained that she was not a risk, but said she has been
left feeling paranoid.
"It's been over a year and a half and I'm still not over it. That
meeting just changed me, it changed who I was," she said.
As a result of the referral by her colleagues, she felt forced to
leave the job she loved, she said, and hated to think what patients
would go through in the same situation.
'Knee jerk referrals'
Adam Deen, of the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam Foundation, is
an advocate of the scheme but believes better training is needed to
avoid "knee-jerk referrals".
He said the fact that most referrals were rejected suggested
individuals in the public sector were making inadequate referrals.
There is no breakdown of how many of the 420 referrals in the 12
months to July 2016 were for patients and how many for staff.
However NHS Trust figures obtained by campaign group Docs Not Cops
suggested most referrals were for patients, of which a significant
number were people with mental health needs.
It found a hospital in Durham referred one staff member and 11 patients.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust made 10 referrals and
eight mental health patients were referred from Bradford District
Care, their figures showed.
'Spot the signs'
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Radicalising vulnerable
people and encouraging terrorist acts is something which NHS staff
should treat as a safeguarding issue."
NHS staff training and guidance was being improved so they can "spot
the signs and act in the same way they would for any other form of
abuse", they added.
Security Minister Ben Wallace said: "Rules for health sector workers
on patient confidentiality are the same across all areas of
safeguarding, including referrals made because of concerns about
radicalisation."
He added that 1,000 people, who had been referred, had been offered
support through Channel since 2012.
The NHS has a legal duty to report patients and staff considered at
risk of being drawn into terrorism
The NHS referred 420 patients and staff to police in England and Wales
in a year over concerns they were at risk of radicalisation, the BBC
has learned.
National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) figures show an average of 35
referrals a month in the year to July 2016 - up from 21 a month the
previous year.
Since July 2015, public bodies have a legal duty to report people
considered at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
The government says its Prevent programme safeguards people at risk.
BBC Radio 5 live used a Freedom of Information request to obtain the
figures from the NPCC, which said that, following assessment, one in
10 were found to be vulnerable to radicalisation and offered support.
Those referred undergo an initial assessment and may then be
considered by a multi-agency "Channel panel", chaired by the local
authority.
If the person is considered to be at risk, they would be offered a
mentor and counselling, as part of the Channel programme, a
de-radicalisation process that uses psychologists, social workers and
religious experts.
Health professionals have previously voiced concerns over referrals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists warned patients might be less
willing to access mental health treatment and questioned the "the
variable quality" of evidence underpinning the Prevent strategy.
Some doctors have also said they fear some psychiatric patients have
been referred inappropriately.
'Paranoid feelings'
One former healthcare assistant, who asked not to be named, told the
BBC that she was referred to Prevent by colleagues after she started
wearing a headscarf at work.
She said she was called to a meeting with safeguarding nurses and a
Prevent police officer, and told that allegations had been made by
colleagues concerned about some of her social media posts.
She said one photo she shared showed so-called Islamic State members
praying in opposite directions because "if they claim to be Muslim,
surely they'd know where Mecca is?"
Muslim women
Image caption
One former healthworker says her referral by colleagues forced her out
of her job
After the meeting, she was told there were no concerns but several
weeks later two Prevent officers paid an unannounced visit to her home
and asked the same questions.
She said she explained that she was not a risk, but said she has been
left feeling paranoid.
"It's been over a year and a half and I'm still not over it. That
meeting just changed me, it changed who I was," she said.
As a result of the referral by her colleagues, she felt forced to
leave the job she loved, she said, and hated to think what patients
would go through in the same situation.
'Knee jerk referrals'
Adam Deen, of the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam Foundation, is
an advocate of the scheme but believes better training is needed to
avoid "knee-jerk referrals".
He said the fact that most referrals were rejected suggested
individuals in the public sector were making inadequate referrals.
There is no breakdown of how many of the 420 referrals in the 12
months to July 2016 were for patients and how many for staff.
However NHS Trust figures obtained by campaign group Docs Not Cops
suggested most referrals were for patients, of which a significant
number were people with mental health needs.
It found a hospital in Durham referred one staff member and 11 patients.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust made 10 referrals and
eight mental health patients were referred from Bradford District
Care, their figures showed.
'Spot the signs'
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Radicalising vulnerable
people and encouraging terrorist acts is something which NHS staff
should treat as a safeguarding issue."
NHS staff training and guidance was being improved so they can "spot
the signs and act in the same way they would for any other form of
abuse", they added.
Security Minister Ben Wallace said: "Rules for health sector workers
on patient confidentiality are the same across all areas of
safeguarding, including referrals made because of concerns about
radicalisation."
He added that 1,000 people, who had been referred, had been offered
support through Channel since 2012.
5 live Investigates is on BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday 20th November at
11:00 GMT. Listen online or download the programme podcast.
Related Topics
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
Here is a very difficult ethical issue that our medics face in the UK
today. The governtment has come up with a strategy, which it calls
PREVENT which imposes a duty on public bodies to 'prevent
radicalisation' as part of its agenda to tackle extremism, which
drives most of terrorism in the UK. In practice, what this means is
that the medical, teaching, sicial work professions have to report
their clients, customers or patients if they suspect they are involved
in terrorism or are vulnerable to radicalisation. Many doctors have
refused to participate in the PREVENT startegy, claiming it
contreadicts the hyppocratic oath of doctor-patient confidentiality.
One of the reasons government has imposed a duty on public bodies to
be at the forefront of the fight agaonst terrorism is because the
MUslim Community itself is in most cases unwilling to cooperate with
the authorities. They never report any terrorist activities, even if
they are being planned oenly in the mosques. Myethical dilemma is: To
fight terrosim requires good intelligence, and this can only
beobtrained from the Mualim community. It behoves therefore that the
Muslim community has to be convinced to be on the side of peace and
democracy and against terrorism. But what if they refuse, as seems to
be the case in the UK, and many other countries in the world? Is the
curtailment of civil liberies justified in the circumstances?
Bobby
NHS referred 420 staff and patients over 'radicalisation'
By Ruth Evans
The NHS referred 420 patients and staff to police in England and Wales
in a year over concerns they were at risk of radicalisation, the BBC
has learned.
National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) figures show an average of 35
referrals a month in the year to July 2016 - up from 21 a month the
previous year.
Since July 2015, public bodies have a legal duty to report people
considered at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
The government says its Prevent programme safeguards people at risk.
BBC Radio 5 live used a Freedom of Information request to obtain the
figures from the NPCC, which said that, following assessment, one in
10 were found to be vulnerable to radicalisation and offered support.
Those referred undergo an initial assessment and may then be
considered by a multi-agency "Channel panel", chaired by the local
authority.
If the person is considered to be at risk, they would be offered a
mentor and counselling, as part of the Channel programme, a
de-radicalisation process that uses psychologists, social workers and
religious experts.
Health professionals have previously voiced concerns over referrals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists warned patients might be less
willing to access mental health treatment and questioned the "the
variable quality" of evidence underpinning the Prevent strategy.
Some doctors have also said they fear some psychiatric patients have
been referred inappropriately.
'Paranoid feelings'
One former healthcare assistant, who asked not to be named, told the
BBC that she was referred to Prevent by colleagues after she started
wearing a headscarf at work.
She said she was called to a meeting with safeguarding nurses and a
Prevent police officer, and told that allegations had been made by
colleagues concerned about some of her social media posts.
She said one photo she shared showed so-called Islamic State members
praying in opposite directions because "if they claim to be Muslim,
surely they'd know where Mecca is?"
One former healthworker says her referral by colleagues forced her out
of her job
After the meeting, she was told there were no concerns but several
weeks later two Prevent officers paid an unannounced visit to her home
and asked the same questions.
She said she explained that she was not a risk, but said she has been
left feeling paranoid.
"It's been over a year and a half and I'm still not over it. That
meeting just changed me, it changed who I was," she said.
As a result of the referral by her colleagues, she felt forced to
leave the job she loved, she said, and hated to think what patients
would go through in the same situation.
'Knee jerk referrals'
Adam Deen, of the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam Foundation, is
an advocate of the scheme but believes better training is needed to
avoid "knee-jerk referrals".
He said the fact that most referrals were rejected suggested
individuals in the public sector were making inadequate referrals.
There is no breakdown of how many of the 420 referrals in the 12
months to July 2016 were for patients and how many for staff.
However NHS Trust figures obtained by campaign group Docs Not Cops
suggested most referrals were for patients, of which a significant
number were people with mental health needs.
It found a hospital in Durham referred one staff member and 11 patients.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust made 10 referrals and
eight mental health patients were referred from Bradford District
Care, their figures showed.
'Spot the signs'
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Radicalising vulnerable
people and encouraging terrorist acts is something which NHS staff
should treat as a safeguarding issue."
NHS staff training and guidance was being improved so they can "spot
the signs and act in the same way they would for any other form of
abuse", they added.
Security Minister Ben Wallace said: "Rules for health sector workers
on patient confidentiality are the same across all areas of
safeguarding, including referrals made because of concerns about
radicalisation."
He added that 1,000 people, who had been referred, had been offered
support through Channel since 2012.
The NHS has a legal duty to report patients and staff considered at
risk of being drawn into terrorism
The NHS referred 420 patients and staff to police in England and Wales
in a year over concerns they were at risk of radicalisation, the BBC
has learned.
National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) figures show an average of 35
referrals a month in the year to July 2016 - up from 21 a month the
previous year.
Since July 2015, public bodies have a legal duty to report people
considered at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
The government says its Prevent programme safeguards people at risk.
BBC Radio 5 live used a Freedom of Information request to obtain the
figures from the NPCC, which said that, following assessment, one in
10 were found to be vulnerable to radicalisation and offered support.
Those referred undergo an initial assessment and may then be
considered by a multi-agency "Channel panel", chaired by the local
authority.
If the person is considered to be at risk, they would be offered a
mentor and counselling, as part of the Channel programme, a
de-radicalisation process that uses psychologists, social workers and
religious experts.
Health professionals have previously voiced concerns over referrals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists warned patients might be less
willing to access mental health treatment and questioned the "the
variable quality" of evidence underpinning the Prevent strategy.
Some doctors have also said they fear some psychiatric patients have
been referred inappropriately.
'Paranoid feelings'
One former healthcare assistant, who asked not to be named, told the
BBC that she was referred to Prevent by colleagues after she started
wearing a headscarf at work.
She said she was called to a meeting with safeguarding nurses and a
Prevent police officer, and told that allegations had been made by
colleagues concerned about some of her social media posts.
She said one photo she shared showed so-called Islamic State members
praying in opposite directions because "if they claim to be Muslim,
surely they'd know where Mecca is?"
Muslim women
Image caption
One former healthworker says her referral by colleagues forced her out
of her job
After the meeting, she was told there were no concerns but several
weeks later two Prevent officers paid an unannounced visit to her home
and asked the same questions.
She said she explained that she was not a risk, but said she has been
left feeling paranoid.
"It's been over a year and a half and I'm still not over it. That
meeting just changed me, it changed who I was," she said.
As a result of the referral by her colleagues, she felt forced to
leave the job she loved, she said, and hated to think what patients
would go through in the same situation.
'Knee jerk referrals'
Adam Deen, of the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam Foundation, is
an advocate of the scheme but believes better training is needed to
avoid "knee-jerk referrals".
He said the fact that most referrals were rejected suggested
individuals in the public sector were making inadequate referrals.
There is no breakdown of how many of the 420 referrals in the 12
months to July 2016 were for patients and how many for staff.
However NHS Trust figures obtained by campaign group Docs Not Cops
suggested most referrals were for patients, of which a significant
number were people with mental health needs.
It found a hospital in Durham referred one staff member and 11 patients.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust made 10 referrals and
eight mental health patients were referred from Bradford District
Care, their figures showed.
'Spot the signs'
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Radicalising vulnerable
people and encouraging terrorist acts is something which NHS staff
should treat as a safeguarding issue."
NHS staff training and guidance was being improved so they can "spot
the signs and act in the same way they would for any other form of
abuse", they added.
Security Minister Ben Wallace said: "Rules for health sector workers
on patient confidentiality are the same across all areas of
safeguarding, including referrals made because of concerns about
radicalisation."
He added that 1,000 people, who had been referred, had been offered
support through Channel since 2012.
5 live Investigates is on BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday 20th November at
11:00 GMT. Listen online or download the programme podcast.
Related Topics
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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