A Christian nurse suing an NHS trust over discrimination has claimed the health service is forcing a “racist ideology” on its students.
Amy Gallagher, 33, is taking legal action against North London’s Portman Clinic, part of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
The nurse, who is in the final stages of a two-year forensic psychology course at the foundation, claims she has been discriminated against because of her race, religion and belief.
The psychiatric nurse fought trust when she was allegedly forced to attend a lecture entitled “Whiteness – A Problem of Our Time” in October 2020.
Amy Gallagher, 33, (pictured) is taking legal action against the Portman Clinic in north London, part of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust
The online presentation then said, “The problem of racism is a problem of whiteness” and encouraged participants to face “the reality of whiteness.”
In a meeting with her trainer, Ms Gallagher explained that she doesn’t consider herself a racist and takes a “color blind” approach, meaning she doesn’t judge people by the color of their skin.
Ms Gallagher claims she was told that such a color-blind approach is now “obsolete”.
Ms Gallagher then lodged a formal complaint with the Tavistock Trust in January last year.
In March, the legal case escalated after an outside speaker complained to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, claiming Ms Gallagher had “caused racial harm” and was therefore unable to work with “diverse populations,” reports The Telegraph.
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust said it could not comment on claims that were part of “ongoing litigation”.
Ms Gallagher said she believes this will be the first “lack of faith” legal case arguing that a white Christian woman cannot believe the critical race theory.
The theory says racism is institutional and rejects the color-blind approach.
She told The Telegraph: “They’re forcing the Critical Race Theory on people – you can’t contradict it or they’ll bully you for two years.
“I’m bringing this lawsuit to protect my career, but it’s also a case in court.
“The NHS is forcing someone to embrace a racist ideology and this needs to stop.”
The nurse, who is represented by Andrew Storch Solicitors, filed court documents in Central London County in March, with her defense attorney Shakespeare Martineau planning to file his defense this week.
Ms. Gallagher, who has worked 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 Psychotherapy Foundation course.
Amy Gallagher set up a Go Fund Me page called “#StandUpToWoke Tavistock discrimination lawsuit” in August 2021 – she has raised more than £27,000
She said she initially enjoyed the two-year part-time course, which will enable her to establish her own private psychotherapy practice.
But became concerned when students in November were told by forensic psychoanalyst Dr. Anne Aiyegbusi, a compulsory lecture on race and racism was given.
Ms Gallagher claimed that the lecturer “spoke negatively about Christianity while making no mention of other religions”.
In August 2021, the nurse set up a Go Fund Me page titled “#StandUpToWoke Tavistock discrimination lawsuit.”
On the website, she said the money would help fund the original lawsuit, the class action lawsuit and a request for judicial review.
It raised £27,518 last year.
The nurse previously said the Trust had threatened to suspend her from her final year of psychotherapy course, which cost more than £20,000.
She said: “Based on my experience there, what they call anti-racism is racism. What they call tolerance is an intolerance towards anyone who thinks differently from them.
“Letting it go unchallenged will only encourage such institutional bullying.
“I feel passionate about it. I hope my case will prove that it is wrong to teach these discriminatory ideas – as if they were factual and true – within the NHS or within academia.
A spokesman for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are unable to comment on an ongoing legal case.
“As a Trust, we have made a public commitment to work to become an anti-racist organization.”
In July, the NHS Trust’s controversial child transgender clinic was forced to close after a report found it was “not safe” for children.
The gender identity service will instead be replaced by regional centers in existing children’s hospitals, which provide more holistic care with “strong ties to mental health services”.