Muslim & Sikh doctors and nurses are to be allowed for religious reasons to opt out of strict NHS dress codes introduced to prevent the spread of deadly hospital superbugs.
I didn’t support the recent “crucifix” legal case involving nurse Shirley Chaplin.
If the health trust is simply asking for this necklace (and ALL protruding necklaces) to be concealed underneath the clothing, or removed, then we see no problem with Christians following this instruction for health and safety reasons.
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As long as these health and safety rules are enforced uniformly, then what’s the problem?
The premise being that the Department of Health adopt an equable and even-handed approach toward all [religious] medical workers in relation to uniform regulations.
It would appear that I was both amiss and somewhat naive to take this approach:
Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed for religious reasons to opt out of strict NHS dress codes introduced to prevent the spread of deadly hospital superbugs.
The Department of Health has announced that female Muslim staff will be permitted to cover their arms on hospital wards to preserve their modesty.
This is despite earlier guidance that all staff should be ‘bare below the elbow’ after long sleeves were blamed for spreading bacteria, leading to superbug deaths.
The Department has also relaxed its ‘no jewellery’ rule by making it clear that Sikhs can wear bangles, as long as they can be pushed up the arm during direct patient care.
The move contrasts with the case of nurse Shirley Chaplin, who last week lost her discrimination battle against Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Trust, which said the cross she has worn since she was 16 was a ‘hazard’ because it could scratch patients.
In relation to the Shirley Chaplin case I also said:
I would now add to this statement the fact that wearing religious symbols is not a requirement of Scripture, nor is it a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith and therefore, should constitute no infringement of Christian religious freedoms, when requested to remove.
The MailOnline Continues:
Yet Islamic experts are divided about how Muslim women should dress as the Koran is ambiguous on the matter.
Health officials drew up the revised rules on the advice of Islamic scholars and a group called Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS (MSCP), which is part of the Muslim Council of Britain.
And this is what happens when you attempt to adopt a balanced and counter-alarmist approach in the UK, to wit, you end up with egg splattered all over your face.
April 11th, 2010 at 9:12 am
The scientific premise of this must be that those evil superbugs are programed to empathise and conform with muslim modesty.
NHS trust management will immediately realise that it is not cost effective to procure both long and short sleeves thus muslim modesty will be the order of the day.
This is a culture war of attrition each small victory counts, long sleeves – short sleeves if you can read the dress code two incompatible and competing value systems.
April 11th, 2010 at 9:38 am
@Goy it seems you’re right frankly.
I was taliking with Gavin Drake, on Twitter before his radio interview (Gavin is Communications director for Lichfield Diocese – Church of England) and he had this to say:
….that’s pretty much the diocese’s position (via the Bishop). It’s about equality + need 4 debate b4 Xnty pushed out
This now seems a very sensible approach indeed eh!
April 11th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I’ve not needed any medical treatment for years but I’m pleased to have been alerted to the danger infection from long sleeves on medical staff.
If I’m in hospital I’ll refuse treatment from any staff in long sleeves. My safety comes before the religious views of the person hired to treat me using my tax cash.
April 11th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
This is shocking. No bangles, no long sleeves, no necklaces (with or without crucifix). One rule for all.