Prayer nurse gains support
A WAVE of support for the nurse suspended for offering to pray for a patient gathered pace as medical and religious bodies rallied behind her cause.
As health chaplains called for new NHS guidelines over spiritual care, the Christian Medical Fellowship said Caroline Petrie's removal amounted to "religious discrimination".
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Committed Christian Caroline Petrie
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also promised to back her disciplinary case.
Committed Christian Mrs Petrie, 45, faces disciplinary action after being accused of failing to show a commitment to equality and diversity. She could be sacked after asking an elderly patient if she wanted her to pray for her.
The patient, May Phippen, 79, was not upset or offended, but told another nurse she found it strange and it might be deemed upsetting or offensive by others.
The Rev Mark Stobert, vice-president of the College of Healthcare Chaplains, has called for clearer guidelines to help avoid a repeat of what happened to Mrs Petrie.
He said: "It can be argued there's a spiritual aspect to all types of care. We have been suggesting a more organised spiritual care framework is established in the NHS in England.
"Such a system exists in Scotland and Wales, and we would renew our calls for something similar to be set up here too. It would mean individuals would be clearer about what they can and cannot do."
Mrs Petrie, of Weston- super-Mare, North Somerset, is being supported by the RCN in the case which has been brought against her by the primary care trust for which she works as a £10-an-hour supply nurse.
The Christian Medical Fellowship's general secretary Peter Saunders said there were thousands of Christian healthcare workers and those of other faiths for whom prayer was a normal daily part of their lives.
He said: "Suspension simply for inquiring about the appropriateness of prayer is not only an act of religious discrimination but will undermine the proper provision of spiritual care in the NHS.
"Appropriate inquiries about patients' beliefs are an essential part of whole person care, without which a comprehensive plan of care is less achievable. A sensitive inquiry as to whether a patient would value prayer may well be an appropriate part of a medical consultation, especially in an NHS where some NHS trusts actually pay spiritual healers as part of the care team."
There were already national and local guidelines detailing the responsibility of NHS trusts to provide spiritual care, said Mr Saunders, who added: "The vast majority of people in Britain understand the offer to pray for a sick person as a personal expression of care and concern.
"This latest incident is sadly part of a growing trend of cases where health managers, who are either personally hostile to Christian faith and values or overly sensitive about issues of political correctness, are using 'equality and diversity policy' as a pretext for bullying and discriminating against NHS staff."
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by George Fairbank, Tiverton
Thursday, February 05 2009, 5:57PM
“This is getting way off topic. And, AG, I'm sure the editor has better things to do than have readers' DNA analysed.
This is about a nurse who, however misguidedly, offered prayer to a patient and that single innocuous act was misinterpreted and blown out of all proportion by the politically correct stormtroopers of modern day Britain.
So far as I can see it, she has done nothing other than take an interest in one of those in her care; isn't that what we expect of nurses?”
by Dr Jim Steele, Washington, Tyne and Wear
Thursday, February 05 2009, 5:56PM
“Offering to pray without forcing it on a person is part of whole person care, and asking about spiritual needs is, for example, recommended in palliative care guidelines used by the medical and nursing professions. In other words there are current accepted good practice guidelines that already accept a spiritual component in people's health care.
This suspension is itself a breach of good equality and diversity practice, and does not recognise the diversity presented by the Christian faith of Caroline Petrie. Nor does it recongise that personal faith can contribute to good practice and care in the work place. Rather it assumes that all expressions of faith are somehow harmful. Contrast the reason for this suspension with coming drunk into work or a similar serious offence, which would justify the severity of suspension. A low key investigation under the complaints procedure would have been much more appropriate.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Thursday, February 05 2009, 4:54PM
“Well Pat , nice question,but where is your proof that he made the world? I was told many years ago that on the sixth day he created light, how can there be no light on the previous days? Why don't you read Charles's comments to people and let me know if that is Christian doctrine? Why do you not look on our real history and see what real Christians you can find? Is our system built on Christian conduct? I will yet again tell you, look around and tell me where you see Christians in this society.
Can you trace your genetic's back to Jesus?
Could you please sent the editor a sample of your DNA that goes back to Adam and Eve, or God. Hope to see the evidence soon.
Message was edited by: wmneditor”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Thursday, February 05 2009, 1:58PM
“Pat don't get upset by AG, it's not worth it. . .
I believe that now those with Christian beliefs have shown this PC nonsense will not be tolerated, they will now all back off. . . Having said that; Carol Thatcher's dismissal shows that there is still a tremendous amount to be done removing this stupid bigotry. . I say that as an aspiring honky raconteur and provocateur.
Message was edited by: wmneditor”
by Pat, Exeter
Thursday, February 05 2009, 12:49PM
“To A Grawlings who wrote- "Christianity is and has been a false belief for the offensive people like CH, to hide behind.."
Can you really substantiate that? Can you show to us that the Lord Jesus is a myth or a figment of the imagination? Can you deny the historicity of the person of Jesus? Can you challenge the claims that he made for himself? Can you explain why the early Church would gladly lay down their lives for his name if his gospel was nothing more than a fairytale? Can you show us how it is all a "false belief". Can you expalin how all the Old Testament Prophecies concerning Christ were fulfilled exactly as it was written of him? Can you move beyond your personal predjudice and begin to look at the truth of him who said "I am the truth......"?
Can you say the resurrection of the Lord Jesus NEVER HAPPENED? Can you show that it was all lies?
Maybe you could read "Who moved the Stone" by Frank Morrison. Morrison was a man who set out to disprove the resurrection but found himself writing a book utterly different from the one he set out to write.
No - A Grawlings- Christianity is not a "false belief" - it is a faith based upon Historical facts whicg has been attested to by Apostolic eyewitnessess.
Are you calling them ALL a liar?”