A local charity has changed one of its logos following a complaint by the British Red Cross, which said it was in breach of the Geneva Convention.

Manx Breast Cancer Support Group had the graphic designed especially for use in the quiet rooms it has provided at Liverpool Airport and Ronaldsway and on an information leaflet they have produced for the government-run Patient Transfer Service.

Charity chairman Julie Stokes said: ’We did not wish to use our own logo for this purpose as we didn’t want anyone to think that it was only for breast cancer patients when it is for all travelling patients.’

Unfortunately the emblem includes a red cross and this has led to a complaint from the British Red Cross. Mrs Stokes confirmed the charity would now be changing the design.

She explained: ’We are going to amend our emblem so that the cross is now pink.

’However, we would like to make it clear that this does not signify in any way that what we have provided, in the shape of the quiet rooms at Liverpool Airport and Ronaldsway, are only for the use of breast cancer patients.

’They are for anyone from the Isle of Man who has to use the Patient Transfer Service to go across for treatment. We are all unpaid volunteers and our focus, as ever, is on the patients. We want to do everything we can to help make their journeys as easy and as comfortable as possible.

’The logo has been put on the quiet rooms to help them identify these areas which are dedicated to their comfort.

’It is also on the information leaflets we have produced to provide guidance for anyone using the Patient Transfer Service and these will be reprinted at our expense.’

The British Red Cross gave us the following statement:

’The Red Cross emblem is much more than just a logo. It is a protected symbol under UK and International Humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions and its use is strictly regulated. In the UK, the British Red Cross is authorised by the Ministry of Defence to use the emblem during peacetime within specified limits. Unfortunately we occasionally have to politely request other organisations to remove unauthorised depictions of the emblem.

’Once its unique status, and its role in protecting humanitarian workers around the world, is explained, people are always very supportive in rectifying any contraventions of its permitted use.

’We are fully in support of the wonderful humanitarian work being carried out by Manx Breast Cancer Support Group for people living with cancer and wish them and their volunteers every success.’