Tattoo Taboo: Body Art and the NHS

Article by Brady Braddock, BSA Today Editor.

No, you’re not hallucinating, tattoos are everywhere lately as body art has officially become a mainstream movement. Now people from all sorts of backgrounds and professions are going under the needle in the name of art.

In fact, according to a recent Acas study, one in three millennials now has a tattoo, including many healthcare professionals currently working within the NHS.

Tattoos come in all shapes and sizes and they can represent anything – that’s the beauty of them, if you can dream it, they can tattoo it.

Tattooing techniques can even be adapted to disguise operation scars and treat hair loss. This procedure is known as micropigmentation and it can boost a person’s self-confidence and transform their day-to-day lives, meaning perhaps tattoos aren’t just skin deep after all.

In the UK tattooing is big business and is now so popular that the number of tattoo shops in Britain has tripled to more than 1,000 over the past decade.

Tattoos are now embraced as a form of self-expression, just like haircuts, clothing and jewellery. This is perhaps due to the rise of social media and the British public’s newfound obsession with celebrity culture. People in their thousands flock to tattoo shops with new ideas, drawing influence from famous actors, musicians and footballers, such as ex- England captain David Beckham, who’s tattoos are widely copied by a generation of adoring fans.

In Britain, the tattoo industry is heavily regulated by local councils and all registered tattoo studios must comply with strict hygiene and safety laws, however in the past things were very different.

Historically, tattooing is known as one of humanity’s oldest art forms and each ancient civilisation has its own unique tattoo history, dating back centuries. The Romans used tattoos as a way to brand criminals and slaves, whereas the Polynesians used them as a way to mark achievements and celebrate tribal rankings.

In the early 1900’s, tattooing gained notoriety due to its association with prison inmates, motor-cycle gangs and other social outsiders. This era perhaps spawned the negative stereotypes and stigma that still exists today, especially amongst older generations and more conservative cultures.

Even as recently as 15 years ago, visible tattoos, whether you had too many or just one in the wrong place, could have had a negative impact on your chances of gaining employment.

Staff employed by the Trust are permitted to have tattoos on display, as long as they are not offensive or intimidating...

For years, tattoos were considered a taboo in the workplace – fast forward to 2019 and it’s almost the norm to see people sporting full sleeve designs in all types of jobs. Acas indicates that attitudes towards tattoos are finally softening and many businesses have moved with the times, keen to create a more open-minded and inclusive working environment.

Some body art fans are keen to push social boundaries even further with hand, neck and face tattoos (aka ‘job stoppers’) becoming more and more popular in recent years.

These tattoos are known as the ‘final frontier’ in the industry, in other words there’s no way back. Most respected tattooists feel that tattooing these areas on people with no previous ink is ethically questionable, as many employers have an outright ban on tattoos of this kind, including the Metropolitan Police.

Unfortunately for the tattooed workforce, some businesses still view body art as an undesirable feature and there is currently NO law that prevents employers from discriminating against visible tattoos. In the UK, employers can legally promote a certain image through staff appearance and the NHS is no different, although each Trust does have its own specific policies and procedures.

It goes without saying that a healthcare professional wouldn't be allowed to display a tattoo that could be deemed offensive, but what about other tattoos? Afterall, physical appearance doesn’t determine the quality of care a healthcare professional can provide.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust is keen to embrace individuality in its employees, but also recognises the importance of creating a positive and professional image.

“Staff employed by the Trust are permitted to have tattoos on display, as long as they are not offensive or intimidating, for example, images and words of a sexual or violent nature or discriminatory language.”

Whilst tattoos are generally becoming more accepted by the patient population, tattoos can mean different things to different people.

Some patients and visitors may see them as a symbol of self-expression and personal identity, whereas others may see them as rebellious and unprofessional, which could lead to a lack of trust.

Alec, a healthcare support worker for the Trust says;

During my time in forensic services I’ve had many conversations with patients about my tattoos. It has been a useful tool to build rapport quickly with patients who have them too.

Whatever your opinions about body art, there’s no doubt about it, times have changed, and tattoos are here to stay.