The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has started a pilot job called a “close-relative marriage nurse/midwife” at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Bradford. The job, listed by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, lasts two years and supports families with babies born to parents who are closely related by blood, often first cousins. The nurse or midwife will help families while their babies get intensive care. They will arrange genetic counseling, testing, and explain health risks linked to close-relative parentage. The advert lists Urdu-speaking skills as desirable, reflecting the hospital's local population. This new role is part of ongoing research. The Born in Bradford project shows babies born to first cousins have a higher chance of congenital health issues—risk rising from about 3% to 6%, even after considering other factors like poverty and maternal age. Marriages between first cousins are legal in the UK but are rare nationwide, though more common in some areas. Medical research says risks increase when such marriages continue for generations. The job was first posted on the NHS Jobs website on February 14, 2025. It received little attention until February 2026, when screenshots circulated widely on social media platform X, causing a strong public reaction. Some questioned why public money was used for this role and debated its title and language needs. Others connected it to wider issues around healthcare and immigration. Experts clarified that this role was not new in 2026, and the social media backlash followed the renewed sharing of an older job listing. No evidence shows the role was re-advertised or extended after it went viral. The NHS said the post is a limited-time pilot focused on neonatal care. It will run for two years and be reviewed to decide if it should continue or expand elsewhere.