Yet another antisemitism scandal engulfed the NHS this week when staff were told “not to attend” an official antisemitism training session that was deemed “inappropriate” by some employees.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust sent an “important notice” to staff in its weekly bulletin warning them against a virtual training session led by the Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT).

The memo sent by email on Monday said: “We have become aware of concerns regarding the antisemitism training that was recently advertised to staff. We have determined that this training and its content may be inappropriate.

“We advise all staff members not to attend this training.”

The warning followed a handful of complaints about APT made via the Black Minority Ethnic (BAME) network.

The chief executive of the trust, Claire Murdoch, apologised for the email, which she said was sent in error.

Interrupting her holiday to telephone the head of APT, Danny Stone, Murdoch apologised for "poor process and error on our part”.

In an email seen by the JC, Murdoch told all staff at the trust: “I want to apologise for the communication which did not go through our usual sign off processes. I have asked that colleagues look into how such a message was communicated in error and we will get to the bottom of it.”

She said staff were “still encouraged” to attend the NHS-sponsored APT training, which is available to all staff in the NHS and went ahead as planned on Thursday morning.

Murdoch added that staff were also encouraged to attend an Islamophobia training session later this month.

The chief executive of the trust, Claire Murdoch, apologised for the email, which she explained as 'poor process and error on our part.' (Photo: NHS)

The chief executive said that the “concerns” about APT came from “some individuals and via the BAME network” and told colleagues that these concerns “will be properly investigated”.

She added, APT “is an experienced provider of training to the NHS and there is no cause to pause the training while the investigation is ongoing”. She said that Stone has “graciously accepted my apology and has emphasised his personal commitment to look at any complaint with due seriousness and understanding.”

The APT has run the 90-minute training session for NHS England twice before and has not been aware of any such warning sent to staff before the memo on Monday.

Presented via an online webinar, APT has also delivered the session to the UK’s main political parties, as well as the BBC, the Royal Court Theatre and numerous other large corporations.

During the training, APT aim to educate people about the “modern manifestations” of antisemitism, which includes discussion around the situation in Israel and Gaza and anti-Zionism.

An APT spokesperson said “We are pleased that the Trust has now endorsed our training and encouraged its members to attend, and we were grateful for the apology we received.

“We are proud to have run educational events for organisations large and small, across different sectors and to have received consistently positive feedback… As anti-Jewish racism continues to rise, it is vital that people have the tools to identify and challenge it.”

In a statement, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust said: “A message in our staff bulletin was sent out across the organisation on Monday 2 September concerning Antisemitism training which is sponsored by NHS England and provided by the Antisemitism Policy Trust. The Trust apologises for this communication which was sent in error and did not go through our usual sign off processes”.

“We will be working with our BAME network and colleagues to ensure that our training and awareness offers on antisemitism, islamophobia and all kinds of racial, cultural and religious intolerance, is of a high quality across the organisation to help maintain the highest possible quality of patient care in our communities”.