Latest news with #HarleyStreetClinic
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
UK private hospital group bans staff from wearing pro-Palestine pins
Private healthcare chiefs have banned employees from displaying pro-Palestine symbols after a complaint from a 'distressed' Jewish patient. HCA Healthcare UK, which runs some of the country's most prestigious private hospitals, has instructed its senior executives to 'ensure that our dress code policy is applied' across the company's sites. It came after a Jewish patient said she was left 'extremely distressed' after seeing two of the three reception staff at the Devonshire Diagnostic Centre, part of HCA Healthcare's Harley Street Clinic, wearing large badges decorated with the Palestinian flag. It later emerged that a rucksack decorated with a visible Palestine flag badge, thought to belong to a member of the Harley Street Clinic's pharmacy staff, had also been left in full view of patients. The patient interpreted the badges not only as a statement of support for Palestinians during the conflict in Gaza, but as a condemnation of Israel's actions in the region. 'Doesn't feel safe to be overtly Jewish' She told The Telegraph: 'It is an utterly inappropriate use of a healthcare setting to push a specific and highly divisive political agenda. It creates an environment in which it does not feel safe to be overtly Jewish, let alone associated with Israel in any way. 'It felt like a punch to the guts to be honest. They weren't being worn in a private setting in a personal capacity, they were being worn in a work setting where people like me are already feeling vulnerable because of their condition. 'I was very relieved I wasn't wearing any overtly Jewish symbols, such as the Star of David, or have an obviously Jewish name because I was left feeling that anything could have happened if they had noticed that.' The patients notified the legal campaign group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), who then complained to HCA Healthcare UK's president and chief executive officer John Reay about the incident. UKLFI warned that wearing the badges in a public setting could 'indicate support for Hamas' actions on 7 October 2023,' when more than 1,200 people were murdered and 250 people were taken hostage. The group also warned HCA Healthcare, whose hospitals include The Wellington, The Portland and The Lister, that such badges could be interpreted as harassing Jewish and Israeli customers and are therefore in breach of the Equality Act. Caroline Turner, the director of UKLFI, told HCA Healthcare: 'It is inevitable that your Jewish or Israeli patients, or indeed other visitors, will be intimidated by seeing a Palestine badge, apparently authorised by HCA, and will consider it a hostile act towards themselves. 'This is the flag that appears in the 'hate marches' that have occurred on most Saturdays since 7 October 2023. Furthermore, patients visiting your hospital are particularly vulnerable, and are likely to be distressed by seeing these political images that conjure up such hatred towards themselves and their people.' The complaint follows a similar incident at HCA Harborne Hospital in Birmingham in February this year. Mr Reay replied to UKLFI, stating: 'I will remind all our senior executives to ensure that our dress code policy is applied to all our sites.' HCA Healthcare told The Telegraph it had a 'very clear uniform policy that prohibits the wearing of any badges on uniforms that are not issued by the hospital' and that this rule applies across all of its hospitals.' A spokesperson said: 'Our uniform policy is clear that only insignia, badges, pins and stickers issued by HCA UK should be worn while working.' UKLFI said: 'We are pleased that HCA will remind staff at all sites not to wear these badges. They can make Jewish patients very distressed at a time when they are feeling at their most vulnerable, in a clinic or hospital.' Earlier this year, staff at some of London's biggest NHS hospitals were banned from wearing pro-Palestine symbols after complaints they were 'upsetting and intimidating' vulnerable patients. Barts Health NHS Trust introduced the ban across its five hospitals: St Bart's, Mile End, Newham, Royal London and Whipps Cross, after UKLFI raised the case of a young Jewish woman who attended Whipps Cross for a caesarean and encountered three members of staff wearing pro-Palestine badges in a 24-hour period.
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Travel Smart With These Intelligent Beauty Products
From the latest launches from luxury beauty houses to the most innovative travel gadgets, here's what to pack on your next trip to keep you feeling on top of the world. Aesthetic doctor, Dr David Jack, is known for his anti-ageing treatments at his Harley Street Clinic (as well as his other outposts in London and Edinburgh) which led him to develop his skincare line in 2018. The Dr David Jack brand encompasses the simple but effective concept of integrative skincare, offering a collection of products rooted in a firm scientific basis. Active ingredients and high-quality formulations give tangible results that target all skin types and concerns. The Dr David Jack Skin Cushion (£139) is perfect to counteract dehydration after a long flight and is the next best thing to an expert facial. The rich moisturiser intensely hydrates, soothes and nourishes dry, stressed and peri-menopausal skin, for a healthy and radiant complexion. The Skin Cushion keeps skin hydrated when travelling. 'With Skin Cushion, we've made an exciting breakthrough in skin recovery technology,' Dr Jack reveals. 'The goal was to create an advanced skin rehabilitation system that responds to the growing challenges of modern skin health without downtime or irritation. By combining cutting-edge biomolecular ingredients like Resveratrol and a dynamic polypeptide complex, we've designed a solution that doesn't simply mask skin concerns, but actively repairs and fortifies the skin's natural defences to aid healing in ageing, stressed skin.' The Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm is ideal for keeping skin fresh after a long journey. Meanwhile, new from Korean skincare brand, Dr. Althea, is the Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm ($22.90). The new balm has a sorbet-like texture and is fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty-free. Perfect for using after a long journey, the unique formula is enriched with essential oils to promote skin rejuvenation, reduce redness and to leave the skin nourished and clean. The cleanser is ideal for travel as it has a hygienic grinding mechanism for convenient and precise portion control. Cellderma's Hydraclean is perfect for a deep cleanse. Stocked in 180 clinics across the UK, Cellderma is a results-driven, scientifically-backed skincare range founded by clinical aesthetician Dr Dev Patel. The new Hydraclean Botanical Cleanser (from £22.44) gives a deep cleanse without leaving the skin feeling tight or dry, thanks to its blend of botanical ingredients. It effectively removes makeup and impurities, leaving the skin feeling refreshed, clean, and nourished. The addition of fatty acids ensures that the skin's natural moisture is preserved, making it suitable even for dry and sensitive skin types. The Heat Somic gives salon-like results. Use it with the Beautifect HeatSonic device (£129) for a deep cleanse like you'd find during a professional facial. The cleansing device is compact and transportable, and comes with its own case. It uses integrated heat technology, warming to 42°C in just 30 seconds. Providing a deep, thorough cleanse, it removes impurities, excess oil and makeup trapped in pores, while preventing breakouts and improving overall skin texture. The device's sonic pulses work to boost circulation, promoting a vibrant, healthy-looking complexion, whilst helping deliver vital nutrients to your skin cells. What's more, this luxurious and effective cleanse also facilitates enhanced absorption and effectiveness of any skincare products that you use afterwards. The new Peep Club eye wand staves off the signs of tiredness around the eyes after long journeys. Another beauty-on-the-go gadget worth packing in your case is the new Peep Club Heated Eye Wand LED+ now available with Victoria Health (£85). The innovative device has been designed to soothe and rejuvenate tired or dry eyes. Integrating multi-wavelength LED technology, a warming compress, and gentle massage, the Heated Eye Wand LED+ helps restore comfort to the eyes, as well as improve the appearance of the skin around the eyes, making it more radiant and firm. The Tolpa range is an affordable brand that targets specific skin issues, such as rosacea. Poland's top-selling skin care brand, Tolpa, is now available in the UK. Known for its dermatologically tested, high-quality formulas featuring peat, a skin-soothing active ingredient, Tolpa targets dryness, rosacea, and acne with ranges like Lipidrio for hydration, Rosacal for redness, and Sebio for blemishes. It hero range, Rosacal, targets rosacea, with the Strengthening Regenerating Cream (£12.99) part of the line-up. The democosmetic product moisturises the skin and strengthens and seals blood vessels, reducing their sensitivity to external factors. The cream soothes erythema and conceals redness thanks to its natural green colouring and has been designed to use overnight. The Weightless Protection can be barely-felt on the skin and gives protection from environmental factors. One of the most important skin producrs is, of course, sunscreen. PCA Skin's Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45 (£42) is a quick-absorbing, lightweight sunscreen that feels like you're wearing nothing at all. The antioxidant-rich, reef safe formula absorbs quickly without leaving behind a greasy residue, so you can apply makeup immediately after. A bold lip is all you need with Hermes Rouge Brilliant Silky Permanent Collection in Shade 85. For those who want to elevate their look yet keep a make-up regime to a minimum when travelling, all you need to do is invest in one luxury product to make the perfect beauty statement. The latest addition to the Hermès Beauty portfolio, Rouge Brilliant Silky lipsticks give a bold lip that take you seamlessly from day to night. From Orange Flash to Rouge Casaque, the lipsticks are available in 14 permanent shades ($77) and three limited edition shades ($81). The Limited Edition Shade 30. The new lip signature, conceived by Gregoris Pyrpylis, creative director of Hermès Beauty, features a subtle veil of color with buildable intensity and a shiny, glossy finish. The color and finish of each shade are inspired by the legendary silk twill used for the house's scarves. What's more, the Rouge Brilliant Silky owes its versatility to its nourishing formula, comprised of 85% natural ingredients, including a plant oil and butter base, mulberry tree, raspberry leaf, and sesame seed extracts, softening plumping, and smoothing lips. Keeping lips soft and supple with a pop of rich colour, you'll not need any other make-up product. What's more the sleek design brings a luxury look to any dressing table. The Clean Slate Discovery Set is filled with travel-friendly goodies. For those passionate about clean beauty products, new online beauty retailer Found Clean Beauty is a one-stop shop for beauty this is safe and toxin-free. The company was founded by Charlie Mcintosh, who was diagnosed with stage three cancer in her mid-40s, and as part of a healing journey she decided to rethink what she put in and onto her body. Struggling to find beauty products that were safe, vetted and minus any 'clean-washing' claims, Charlie, now in remission, joined forces with her long-standing friend, Zoe Bulgin, and after two years of research and education, Found was created. The mini essentials are free from any nasties. Perfect for travellers who are looking to avoid chemicals that may harm their long-term health or looking to reduce their toxic-load, the Clean Slate Discovery Set (£130) is packed with mini essentials from leading clean brands, such as Olio e Osso, Banks-Lyon Botanical, Rahua and Oskia. EAch product is travel-friendly and the ultimate introduction to the best clean beauty brands around. The iconic Elasticizer is now available in a Honey Nectar and Peach scent. For an intense hair treatment in your own bathroom, look to the iconic Philip Kingsley Elasticizer pre-shampoo mask (£41). Now available in a Honey Nectar and Peach scent, the Elasicizer has been formulated by leading Trichologists and has long been hailed by experts as the one product that really works outside of a salon. As well as reducing breakage after just one use, it adds elasticity, strength and shine to all hair types. The new mini Wild Deodorants are ideal for travellers. Wild's Mini Natural Deodorant (£10) is just the thing for keeping fresh when on the go. It is formulated with gentle, natural ingredients to provide 24 hours of protection from body odour. Featuring tapioca starch to effectively absorb moisture, it keeps you dry throughout the day. Packaged in unique, plastic-free, compostable materials, and available in a variety of scents, this vegan-certified deodorant is free from parabens and aluminium and is a must for every beauty-loving traveller. DAily Hydration keeps your health in tip-top condition. Keeping you hydrated and feeling ready to conquer the world is the new Daily Hydration (£32 for 30 servings) from Sixways. The electrolyte supplement combines nature's most effective hydration ingredients without the artificial additives found in conventional products. Backed by nutritionist & hormone balance apecialist, Jessica Shand, Daily Hydration harnesses the power of natural coconut water electrolytes. The advanced mineral blend delivers precision-engineered hydration to the body. Not too salty, not too sweet—just pure, clean hydration. Epigen12™ Cell Renewal supplement is said to reverse the signs of ageing. Last but not least and tapping into the trend for longevity, the wellness buzzword of the moment, is NIANCE. The Swiss luxury beauty and longevity brand has unveiled its new Epigen12™ Cell Renewal supplement (£320 for a month's supply). There's no need to book into expensive longevity therapies after using this supplement— it is clinically proven to reverse biological ageing by up to 12 years, says the brand. 'Epigen12™ Cell Renewal restores youthful cellular function by addressing the root causes of ageing, including epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, and telomere attrition. This innovative formulation combats oxidative stress, supports DNA repair, and enhances overall cellular health to deliver unparalleled results.' 'At the heart of this advanced supplement is EPIGEN12™, a next-generation ingredient derived from scarlet beebalm and lemon balm,' says NIANCE. 'Its efficacy is backed by a clinical trial involving 81 volunteers aged 45– ingredients such as Trans-Resveratrol, Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), Coenzyme Q10, and Niacinamide complement EPIGEN12™ to synergistically target ageing markers, enhance NAD+ production, combat oxidative stress, and promote mitochondrial energy production.'
