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A Christian nurse, who is suing an NHS Trust for discrimination, has claimed that health care is pushing a ‘racist ideology’ on her students.
Amy Gallagher, 33, is taking legal action against the Portman Clinic in north London, part of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
The nurse, who is in her final phase of a two-year forensic psychology course at the trust, claims she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, religion and belief.
The mental health nurse objected to the trust when she was allegedly forced to participate in a lecture titled ‘whiteness – a problem of our time’ in October 2020.
Amy Gallagher, 33, (pictured) takes legal action against the Portman Clinic in north London, part of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust
The online presentation went on to say ‘the problem of racism is a problem of whiteness’ and encouraged attendees to face ‘the reality of whiteness’.
During a meeting with her instructor, Ms Gallagher explained that she did not consider herself racist and that she took a ‘color-blind’ approach, meaning that she did not judge people by the color of their skin.
Ms Gallagher claims she was told such a color-blind approach is now “outdated.”
Mrs Gallagher then lodged a formal complaint with the Tavistock Trust in January last year.
In March, the lawsuit was escalated after an outside speaker complained to the Nursing and Midwifery Council alleging that Ms Gallagher had “inflicted racial harm” and as a result was unable to work with “diverse populations”. The Telegraph reports.
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust said it cannot comment on claims that are part of an ‘ongoing legal case’
Ms Gallagher said she believes this will be the first “lack of faith” lawsuit that a white Christian woman cannot believe in Critical Race Theory.
The theory says that racism is institutional and rejects the color-blind approach.
She told The Telegraph: ‘They are forcing people to use Critical Race Theory – you can’t disagree with it or they will bully you for two years.
“I’m filing this lawsuit to protect my career, but it’s also in court.
“The NHS is forcing someone to adopt a racist ideology and that has to stop.”
The nurse, who will be represented by Andrew Storch Solicitors, filed court documents in Central London County in March, while her lawyer, Shakespeare Martineau, plans to file his defense this week.
Ms Gallagher, who has been working for seven years, enrolled in Portman Clinic’s D59F Forensic Psychodynamic Psychotherapy course in September 2020 to complete her clinical training. She had already completed Tavistock’s basic psychotherapy course.
Amy Gallagher set up a Go Fund Me page in August 2021 titled ‘#StandUpToWoke Tavistock discrimination lawsuit’ – it has raised over £27,000
She said she initially enjoyed the two-year part-time degree, which qualifies her to set up her own private psychotherapy practice.
But became concerned when students received a mandatory lecture on race and racism from forensic psychoanalyst Dr Anne Aiyegbusi in November.
Ms Gallagher claimed that the teacher “talked negatively about Christianity when no other religions were mentioned.”
In August 2021, the nurse set up a Go Fund Me page titled “#StandUpToWoke Tavistock Discrimination Lawsuit.”
On the site, she said the money would help fund the initial lawsuit, class action lawsuit and an application for a judicial review.
It has raised £27,518 in the past year.
The nurse previously said the Trust had threatened to suspend her from her final year of psychotherapist training, which cost more than £20,000.
She said: “Based on my experience there, racism is what they define as anti-racism. What they describe as tolerance is an intolerance for anyone who thinks differently from them.
Left untouched, such institutional bullying will only be encouraged.
“I feel passionate about this. I hope my case will prove it wrong to teach these discriminatory ideas – as if they were factual and true – within the NHS or within academia.”
A spokesperson for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We cannot comment on an ongoing legal matter.
“As a trust, we have publicly committed to becoming an anti-racist organization.”
In July, the NHS Trust’s controversial children’s transgender clinic was forced to close after a report found it ‘not safe’ for children.
The gender identity service will instead be replaced by regional centers in existing children’s hospitals, which will provide more holistic care with “strong links to mental health services.”