Sunday 24 May 2009

Here We Go Again...

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital have sent a member of staff home because she refused to take off her crucifix.

They claim that it's because of health and safety issues, namely that it could harbour infection or it could be grabbed by a patient.

This is somewhat confusing. 

Helen Slatter is a phlebologist, which means she takes blood samples from patients. When you get that close to patients, they can grab anything... or even poke you in the eye, should the fancy take them... maybe Mrs. Slatter should wear a helmet? Oh, and did you know that phlebologists carry needles... lots of them... nasty sharp things... they can be grabbed too...

The hospital authorities told Mrs. Slatter that she could carry the crucifix in a pocket rather than under her uniform as at present... because obviously this makes a difference to the amount of infective material it can harbour... ummm...

Colour me stupid, but I don't quite get the scientific argument there...

Something doesn't quite add up...

As a matter of interest, you'd think that the BBC could rustle up a picture of a crucifix to illustrate their story, wouldn't you?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, we could always write to the local NHS Trust and inform them of their material error, when it comes to science. As to health & safety, well they'll use that as an excuse 'til the day I die!

Paulinus said...

There is a corollary to this, then. Everyone (and I suspect its over 50% of their staff if it's anything like my hospital) will now have to not wear their name badge on a lanyard, by the same principle.

This is not abot health and safety at all. Rings are apparently banned except wedding rings (as if MRSA has a particlar aversion to wedding rings rather than any other sort of rings). They don't ban wedding rings because they know they would face too mch opposition. It's not about science, it's about what they can get away with in the name of Elf'n'Safety and Christians are fair game.

Shame on them but they need to be called on this.

Patrick Sheridan said...

This has sod all to do with ''health & safety'' or whatever rubbish they're calling it; its a veiled attack on the Church. But since ''religious discrimination'' seldom works in favour with Catholics, theres no point in complaining. I just feel sorry for the idiots who go along with these pathetic rules, may God lift the veil over their eyes.

Kevin said...

May I respectfully suggest that we are over-reacting. This may not be anything anti-religion, although it's possible that some part of it is.

Perhaps the risk is due to the crucifix being worn. As perhaps with labourers working with machinery, who would understand that wearing a chain or a metal wristwatch is a matter of life and death, or having two hands. As a labourer, I would voluntarily tuck my S. Benedict medal into a breast pocket.

Mulier Fortis said...

Sir Francis, you are being extremely charitable, but she is already wearing the crucifix under her uniform... and phlebotomists aren't in the habit of working with heavy machinery.

Paulinus - above - is a hospital doctor, and he thinks the H&S argument is a ridiculous excuse... if anyone should know about hospital practice, I guess he's the man to ask!

Bernadette said...

Yes, here we go again, indeed. My advice to Helen is not to resign or to go off sick but to stick it out, quietly. I did, and won. Around three million people a day saw my crucifix. Not one objection came from them.

If Helen really thinks this could become an issue, then sue the Glouceshire Health Trust for a breach of her Human Rights (right to practise a religious belief.)

Come on folks, toughen up. If we choose to wear such an emblem of horrific abuse, then we have to learn how to deal with the fall-out, yes ? He hung on the cross for us in the first place. Is a little criticism really too much to bear ?

Most Catholics I know don't even wear a crucifix. They're too busy reading their horoscopes in The Daily Mail.

George said...

Definitely ANTI-CATHOLIC (CHRISTIAN)!

I wonder how many phlebotomists, phlebologists, proctologists and other '-ologists' out there in the NHS wear full blown burkas, have 'ban the bomb' insignia strung round their necks, sport satanist tatoos, etc....

No, it's only ever directed at ordinary folk wearing a crucifix. Health and Safety 'get out' clauses are just a smoke screen excuse - and are being deliberately used and twisted in their intepretation specifically when required in such instances as this. We shouldn't have any of it!

A patient could as easily grab a pair of glasses off the doctors nose, snatch a pen from their breast pocket even strangle the poor doctor with their own stethoscope already half strung round their necks anyway!

Well, stuff the 'system'. Unless we are prepared to speak out courageously, fight back with common sense and stand up for our 'uman rights and religious freedom, they'll be closing down our churches next, telling us what, when and how to worship the One World Order and carting you off to 'correctional institutes' if you don't toe the line or don't carry the mark of the beast!

You think I'm paranoid and crazy???? Just open the bible and your eyes!

Elizabeth said...

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.He who hates me hates my Father as well.If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father"

I think Jesus said it all.

Unknown said...

It's a pity she didn't take them to tribunal/court whilst still employed. They would have to defend the science and the uniformity of the ruling (eg are people forbidden to wear ear/nose/etc-rings). If Helen reads this blog, I wish her well for the future.

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