Two NSW Health workers have been stood down from Bankstown Hospital and police are investigating after footage emerged of the pair allegedly making antisemitic remarks online.
In a conversation online with Jewish influencer Max Veifer, the two nurses appear to boast that they would kill Israeli patients if they had to treat them.
In the video, one of the nurses introduces himself as a doctor, and the pair could be seen wearing NSW Health uniforms.
After learning that Veifer is from Israel, the pair began to make antisemitic remarks.
One of the nurses, a woman, allegedly said that if patients from Israel came into the hospital, should would not treat them.
“I won’t treat them, I’ll kill them,” she said.
The other nurse, a man, claimed that he had killed Israeli patients.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said two nurses had been “stood down immediately.”
“Obviously the investigative process now takes place, I do not want to leave a sliver of light to allow any of them to be able to think they will ever work for New South Wales Health again.”
Park said he was sent the video about 7.20am today, and the pair were identified very quickly.
“Everyone is entitled to access NSW health and hospital services without fearing for their life, and without having that hate-filled attitude come through some of our health workers,” he said.
“This video is disgusting. It is shocking. It is appalling.”
Park also apologised to the Jewish community in Australia.
“To the Jewish community today, I say not only am I sorry, but I can assure you this – the care that you get in our hospitals will continue to be first class, we will investigate this uphill and down dale,” Park said.
“We won’t just be looking at this incident per se, and going through previous cases to make sure that that hospital has been working in a way that reflects those values around safety and care.”
Police detectives with Strike Force Pearl are at Bankstown Hospital investigating the incident.
NSW president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Kathryn Austin said there was no place for hatred in the health system.
“On behalf of NSW doctors, we want to make it very clear that doctors, nurses and other health practitioners are committed to providing the best possible care to every patient in NSW,” she said.
“The Declaration of Geneva states doctors will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between their duty and their patient.
“There is no place for hatred or division in the health system and this behaviour will not be tolerated. Our hospitals must remain safe havens for all patients.”
