UK’s NHS Takes the Knee to Islam
1st May 2025
Leading National Health Service (NHS) executives participated in a scheme where they were “reverse-mentored” by Muslim staff on their “lived experience.” This follows the earlier circulation of a guide for ‘New Muslims’ across the service aimed at general staff.
According to GB News, the NHS’ chief strategy officer and its director for people volunteered to meet, under the direction of the NHS Muslim Network, with staff and listen to their “lived experience as a Muslim colleague.” The two civil servants, Chris Hopson and Em Wilkinson-Brice, will then have to meet with their Muslim reverse-mentees for a minimum of one hour per quarter.
Separately, the published guidebook sets out the process of conversion to Islam, while referring to the reader as the “convert.” It also advises that modest dress, that is “loose-fitting, modest clothing covering all parts of the body aside [from] the face, hands and feet” be adopted, as “by doing so, you are abiding by an obligation passed to us by God.” Typically, such advice would run contrary to the dress requirements of a sterile medical environment.