NHS nurse suspended for racist post asking Father Christmas for ‘our country back’

An NHS nurse has been suspended for six months after an investigation uncovered a series of anti-migrant social media posts, including one asking Father Christmas for “our country back”.Tina Orbell, an emergency department nurse, made the racist plea to Santa Claus as part of a tirade of anti-immigrant posts on her social media accounts. An investigation found no fewer than 25 such posts, with a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) inquiry concluding that her “views towards particular races, religions, and immigration statuses” would “shock” most people.

The tribunal ruled that Ms Orbell’s public statements could make immigrants “reluctant” to access healthcare services, fearing they “may be subjected to discrimination”.Ms Orbell, who worked in the Emergency Department at University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, was reported to the NMC by three colleagues and three members of the public in January and February 2025, prompting the inquiry into her conduct.Among these was a photo of a house with a poster attached which read: “Dear Father Christmas all we really want is our country back.”

Tina Orbell was a nurse in the emergency department at a Birmingham hospital (file photo) (PA Wire)Another Christmas-themed post had a cartoon of a white man in a suit kicking a brown man in a white robe and religious cap, with the captions “Its Merry Christmas not Happy holidays” and “F*** the Anti-Christ Vermin off and close the borders”.Below a misinformation post with a photo of a Muslim man and a caption which reads “Europe is unclean land, full of disbelievers. Allah has appointed us as the Caliphate on earth, so wherever we are the land is ours.

We will take over Europe and establish the law of the Quran and hadith”, Ms Orbell commented: “Just F O we don’t want you or anyone like you here.”Another post joked: "Due to weather warning Starmer has asked the illegals to use the channel tunnel.”Further posts demonised immigrants, asylum seekers and Muslims, and accused the UK government of pandering to them.

This included implying that the reason police are unable to deal effectively with crime is because they are “sitting on the floor in a mosque”.A number of posts showed Ms Orbell's engagement in far-right misinformation campaigns.The NMC investigated the nurse's posts and found that they amounted to misconduct on her behalf.

Ms Orbell did not admit to the posts, but did write in a statement: “I acknowledge that I have reposted and commented on inappropriate material on my personal Facebook account, for which I feel deep shame and regret.”She has now retired from nursing and has no intention to return.However a panel from NMC has found that she should be given the chance to reflect and return if she wishes after a six-month suspension.

It said: "The panel noted that patients were put at risk of harm as a result of Mrs Orbell’s misconduct."It considered that patients may be reluctant to seek treatment at a hospital where a registered nurse shares such views, in fear that they may be subjected to discrimination themselves."The panel noted from the evidence before it that some of Mrs Orbell’s colleagues were negatively impacted by her actions."

Mrs Orbell’s misconduct had breached numerous parts of the NMC Code, particularly in relation to upholding the reputation of the profession at all times, and in doing so, breached the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession and therefore brought its reputation into disrepute."The panel considered that a well-informed member of the public would be shocked to learn that a registered nurse held such views towards particular races, religions, and immigration statuses."The panel therefore considered that a finding of impairment is also required on the ground of public interest to maintain public confidence in the nursing profession, and to uphold proper professional standards of conduct and behaviour."

The panel determined that a suspension order for a period of six months was appropriate in this case to mark the seriousness of the misconduct, and to provide Mrs Orbell with an opportunity to continue developing her insight, and take additional steps to strengthen her practice."Join our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments