An NHS nurse has been permanently struck off the nursing register after a fitness to practise hearing found she made a series of Islamophobic statements to colleagues, brought weapons to work, and posted anti-Muslim content on social media following the Southport attacks.
Belinda Jayne Ellams, a registered nurse based in Cheshire, was found to have made repeated derogatory comments about Muslims during shifts at Millbrow Care Home in 2024, in the weeks following the Southport knife attack.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel found all major charges proved and determined that her conduct was “fundamentally incompatible with remaining on the register.”
Ellams told colleagues that “the Muslims are coming,” that “the Muslims are building an army to kill all white people,” and that “we need to be ready for the Muslims when they come.” She also used the slurs “Muzzies” and “Muzzy bashers” — a term her colleague understood to mean beating up Muslims — on multiple occasions in the presence of co-workers.
Following the Southport attack on July 29, 2024, she falsely told a colleague that the perpetrator “was a radicalised Muslim” and that “the media were in fact covering up this fact,” before adding that “we are gathering an army.”
Her colleague, Michelle Isaac, told the panel: “I have never encountered that kind of view before. That could cause real murders.” She added: “When she said that they were gathering an army, that was quite scary — I’ve got kids.”
On August 4, 2024, while working as the nurse in charge, Ellams brought weapons into the care home — including a chain of weighted steel balls, which she demonstrated could be swung to cause injury, and a large pair of scissors.
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She also handed a colleague a pair of sharpened nail scissors, telling her to take them “in case the Muzzies come.” She instructed staff to lock all doors and windows “in case a Muslim gets in.”
Permanently truck off
Ellams also posted an image on Facebook depicting Muslim men running toward a distressed white child, with the caption: “Are you ready to face reality yet? The Government will not help you. They are just allowing the illegal migrants in. They do not care about your lives or your children’s lives.”
The panel found the image was “racially motivated” and “motivated by hostility towards Muslims,” describing it as “a recognised Islamophobic trope.”
Ellams did not attend the hearing and denied all allegations in written correspondence, stating: “I deny all the allegations against me and I am absolutely appalled by them and how I have been treated.”
She had previously written to the NMC claiming: “It is suggested that I have been discriminatory against Muslims. I am not.”
The panel found she had shown no insight, remorse or remediation, and described her conduct as reflecting “deep seated attitudinal issues.” It concluded that “public confidence in the profession would be seriously undermined” if she were permitted to remain on the register.
Ellams was struck off with immediate effect and is subject to an interim suspension order for 18 months pending any appeal.
