NHS consultant suspended as hospital probes ‘wipe Israel off map’ speech
Surgeon investigated and reportedly suspended after arrest over protest speech as Jewish patient raises safety concerns
An NHS consultant filmed calling for Israel to be “wiped off the face of the map” has reportedly been suspended and is under investigation following a speech at a London protest.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it is reviewing concerns about vascular surgeon Ranjeet Brar after footage emerged of remarks he made outside the US Embassy on 4 April.
According to UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), Brar has been suspended from his hospital role for at least two weeks. The Trust has not publicly confirmed the suspension but said it is taking the matter seriously.
In a written response, Chief Executive Professor Clive Kay said: “We are aware of the footage in question, and I can confirm that we are reviewing the concerns raised… for reasons of confidentiality, fairness and due process, it would not be appropriate for us to comment on individual cases or any potential actions.”
He added that any issues meeting the required threshold would be addressed through formal procedures, stressing the Trust’s duty to challenge “discrimination in all its forms” and ensure hospitals remain “welcoming and safe places for everyone”.
Separately, Brar was arrested on 9 April in connection with the content of the speech and later released.
Footage from the rally shows Brar praising Iran and calling for Israel to be destroyed, as well as urging the closure of the Israeli and US embassies in London. He also referred to “financiers in the City of London” as “parasites”.
UKLFI said it had been contacted by a Jewish patient at King’s College Hospital who expressed concern about being treated by the doctor, citing fears about potential bias.
In its complaint, the group argued that Brar’s conduct may breach General Medical Council guidance on maintaining patient trust, avoiding discrimination and upholding professional standards. It has also referred the case to the regulator.
A spokesperson for UKLFI said: “We welcome the Trust’s investigation and urge that appropriate action is taken.”
Brar, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), was previously arrested in 2024 over pamphlets alleged to contain antisemitic conspiracy material, though no charges were brought.
He is also listed as a director of Healthcare Workers Against Censorship Ltd, alongside two other medics who have faced professional scrutiny.
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