NHS staff have been informed how to convert to Islam in a guide made by the NHS Muslim Network.
The Network's 'Guide for New Muslims', tells NHS staff that converting to Islam will be the "best decision you ever make" and reassures readers if family members and friends "initially [do] not have a positive reaction".
The guide, written by and circulated to NHS staff, addresses the reader as "convert" and says it has been written "with the intention of pleasing God by providing support to converts to Islam, their peers and colleagues".
It reads: "For many converts, becoming Muslim isn't always a celebration, as many friends and relatives need some time to accept the good news."
WATCH: The full GBN Originals documentary on Islam and the NHS
NHS staff are told that dressing modestly - described in the guide as "lose-fitting, modest clothing covering all parts of the body aside the face, hands and feet", is "completely possible" to maintain at work and "by doing so, you are abiding by an obligation passed to us by God".
The NHS Muslim Network has received at least £2,655 in public money in 2022/23, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed.
GB News awaits further information on any funds it may have received in other years.
Its guidance sits under "training" on the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes health and care partnership website and the Network is "sponsored" by top executives of NHS England.
The NHS South East London Integrated Care Board admitted to GB News the Network has been publicised to its staff.
Staff networks are encouraged across the NHS and workers are allotted "protected time" away from their regular duties to work on their Networks, which the NHS recommends is a "minimum of two days per month".
NHS staff were told to fast for Ramadan to 'understand and experience how Muslims feel'GB NEWSThe NHS Muslim Network has historically had three co-chairs and its executive team tallies twelve members.
The Network has been hiring for staff as of January 2025. 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 also 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.
The NHS Muslim Network has previously 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.
Events were held by the Network during Islamophobia Awareness Month, which was attended by Zara Mohammed, the former leader of the Muslim Council of Britain.
Other events were frequented by senior NHS staff. Chair of the Derbyshire NHS Trust Selina Ullah attended an event on Celebrating World Hijab Day.
Chris Hopson said he watned to 'create awareness of this holy month for Muslims and to thank our Muslim colleagues in the NHS'GB NEWSSome of Britain's top civil servants, NHS Chief Strategy Officer Chris Hopson, and NHS Director for People Em Wilkinson Brice have "supported" the Network's events, while Hopson is the "Executive Sponsor" of the Network.
Hopson attended a session named "What is Islamophobia?" during Islamophobia Awareness Month of November 2024.
Wilkinson-Brice opened the Network's "Black History Month celebration" event in October 2022, according to its Linkedin page.
The pair also spoke at the Network's Eid Al Fitr event in 2023, attended by other senior NHS figures. Hopson and Wilkinson-Brice offer their time to Muslim members of staff by volunteering for the NHS Muslim Network's "reverse-mentoring scheme".
The scheme is open to Muslim members of staff to apply to share their "lived experience as a Muslim colleague working within the NHS" with NHS executives.
Reverse mentors are invited to spend a minimum of an hour per quarter with Hopson and Wilkinson-Brice.
The Network is ran by NHS staff who are allocated 'protected time' away from their regular duties to work on itGB NEWSHopson was paid £190,000 and Brice-Wilkinson was paid £175,000 in 2022/23.
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.
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.”
Selina Ullah, Chair of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Trust, added: "It is important that we support and celebrate the contribution of NHS Muslim colleagues. If all our staff feel included, we can provide patients with the best quality care."
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.”
