David Vance SubstackRead More
Did you see that the Nursing and Midwifery Council has permanently struck off Roberta Batchelor, a 40-year veteran NHS nurse and former ward manager?
The sole reason for her dismissal? A handful of anti-immigration meme posts THAT she shared on her private Facebook account in August 2024, amidst the national anger after the Stockport massacre.
So what were these meme posts?
Well, it seems they contrasted treatment of immigrants with neglect of homeless veterans; they quoted a Bible verse warning that “foreigners” would become “rulers,”; and they mocked security checks for boat arrivals versus airport travellers. One image criticised taxpayer-funded mosque protection alongside a violent depiction involving Arab men. These are widely held views by many Brits and they were expressed in private.
That didn’t stop the NMC ruling that the posts sought “to cause offence to immigrants and those of Muslim faith,” breaching nurses’ duty to treat people with kindness and respect. The panel found “deep-seated attitudinal issues” that risked public harm and undermined trust in the profession.
How outrageous!
Batchelor (wrongly, in my opinion!) admitted misconduct, expressed remorse, and even asked to be removed from the register, citing disgust at her actions—especially given her mixed-ethnicity family. It’s a shame she did this but it’s her call however it only encourages the censor culture.
Is their decision defensible? Well, nursing demands impartiality as patients from all kinds of backgrounds have to trust those treating them. Regulators routinely discipline healthcare workers for social media posts implying bias, even if private and unrelated to work. Yet this ruling raises serious concerns about institutional overreach. The posts, while arguably offensive, expressed political frustration over immigration policy—a topic of legitimate public debate. Concerns about borders, resource allocation, and cultural integration are mainstream, not extremist. Punishing these private opinions turns professional bodies into thought police and that needs reversed.
What BUSINESS is it of the NWC what people say in private? I reckon its not even legal!
A spotless 40-year career has been ended over a brief outburst on her PRIVATE account during national unrest. No patient complaints, no evidence of workplace discrimination. Surely lesser sanctions could have sufficed?
Finally, this is selective enforcement. Nurses expressing extreme views on other divisive issues, such as gender ideology or Palestine, face milder if any consequences. All this does is confirm institutional bias, not neutral regulation.
In the final analysis, this case highlights how the term “public confidence” is increasingly weaponised to enforce ideological conformity. In an NHS facing severe staffing shortages, destroying careers over off-duty political posts serves neither patients nor the profession.
Please share this if you agree with me.
