'40 Days for Life' protest - our position
We have been made aware that the above group, and a counter protest group, are planning to be on site at QMC from 14 February.
The below statements, from NUH and Nottingham City Council, clarify our position on this.
Tracy Taylor, NUH Chief Executive, said: "Learning from previous experiences and listening to the extensive concerns we have received in recent weeks ahead of the planned protest at QMC, we would like to make it clear that the Trust's stance is that any protest that impacts adversely on our patients, visitors or staff will not be supported anywhere on our site.
"The Trust's priority is protecting the health, safety and welfare of its patients, visitors and staff. Previous protests by this group have caused very considerable distress to patients, visitors and staff; which we are not prepared to allow to happen again. As such, we do not give permission for any such protest to take place on our site.
"NUH would take the same approach in respect of any protest having a negative impact on our patients or staff, regardless of the particular viewpoint of the protesters, and these comments are therefore made without prejudice.
"We are taking strengthened actions to protect our patients and staff, including making early contact with the protest groups as well as the police, the Treatment Centre and other partners so that we can ensure that all who need to access our services can do so without intimidation."
Nottingham City Council's Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health, Councillor Nick McDonald, said: "We fully support Nottingham University Hospital Trust's stance on this protest, given the clear potential for the distress it is likely to cause to patients, visitors and staff.
"Of course people have every right to their own views on these sorts of issues, but in my view no one has the right to intimidate or cause distress to others in the manner we have seen in previous years from this protest. We are therefore fully behind any moves by the Trust to prevent or contain the protest, in the interests of people visiting or working at the hospital."