Prayer-row nurse can return to work

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New guidelines on NHS workers discussing religion with patients and other staff were criticised as a nurse suspended for offering to pray for a patient was asked to return to work.

Caroline Petrie, 45, of Weston-super-Mare, was accused of failing to show a commitment to equality and diversity after the incident. But NHS North Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) said she was now welcome to return to work.

Campaigners say they fear more staff may find themselves in trouble if their religious beliefs come into conflict with the guidelines set out in a document called Religion or Belief: A Practical Guide for the NHS.

It states: "Members of some religions ... are expected to preach and to try to convert other people. In a workplace environment this can cause many problems, as non-religious people and those from other religions or beliefs could feel harassed and intimidated by this behaviour.

"To avoid misunderstandings and complaints on this issue, it should be made clear to everyone from the first day of training and/or employment, and regularly restated, that such behaviour, notwithstanding religious beliefs, could be construed as harassment under the disciplinary .....continued below

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Dr Peter Saunders, the general secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said the ethos of the NHS was influenced by Christianity. He told the Daily Telegraph: "It is quite ironic that people seem to be seeing Christian belief as something unhelpful. We live in a post-Christian society and that's fine as long as we don't end up with a system where people are actually discriminated against, bullied and not allowed to express their Christian values."

Neil Addison, a Roman Catholic barrister who specialises in religious discrimination law, added: "I think the irony is that in the guise of diversity we are introducing uniformity. Quite often these reports say people cause offence but no-one ever asks if that offence is reasonable and who is offended? What seems to be lacking is a sense of live and let live."

A Department of Health spokesman said the document was a guide to encourage awareness for staff and patients.

He said: "The guide recognises that for some groups evangelising is part of their religious practice, which for some staff or patients can cause offence or discomfort. The guide suggests, to avoid misunderstanding or complaints, that as part of staff induction staff are made aware that this practice could be construed by some patients or staff as harassment.

"Feedback from trusts that were part of the consultation exercise for the guide indicated that this was a real issue, and something on which they were seeking guidance."