Contact: Andrea Minichiello Williams, Christian Legal Centre, 020 7467 5421

 

WESTON-SUPER-MARE, UK, Feb. 2 /Standard Newswire/ -- A Christian nurse from Weston-super-Mare has been suspended from her work for offering to pray for an elderly patient.

 

Caroline Petrie, a community nurse and devout Christian, is facing dismissal for an alleged breach of her code of conduct on equality and diversity.

Mrs. Petrie, who is married mother of two, has been accused by her employers of failing to demonstrate a "personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity" because of her offer of prayer.

She was suspended, without pay, on 17th December 2008 and will find out the outcome of her disciplinary meeting this week. She says she has been left shocked and upset by the action taken against her.

 

Mrs. Petrie, who has been a community nurse since 1985 and is employed by North Somerset Primary Care Trust, said she had asked an elderly patient if she would like a prayer said for her after she had put dressings on the patient's legs. The patient declined and Mrs. Petrie took the matter no further.     

 

The situation arose at the home of the patient in North Somerset.  Mrs. Petrie said: "It was around lunchtime and I had spent about 20 to 25 minutes with her. I had applied dressings to her legs and shortly before I left I said to her: 'Would you like me to pray for you?' She said 'No, thank you.' And I said: 'OK.' I only offered to pray for her because I was concerned about her welfare and wanted her to get better."

 

Mrs. Petrie was initially confronted the next day by a nursing sister who said the patient had been taken aback by her question about prayer. Subsequently, Mrs. Petrie received a message on her home phone from the North Somerset Primary Care Trust telling her that disciplinary action against her would be taken. She was then suspended.

 

Caroline Petrie said, "The woman mentioned it to the sister who did her dressing the following day. She said that she wasn't offended but was concerned that someone else might be. I was spoken to by my manager. She said 'I've got a letter in one hand and an incident form in the other. You won't be able to work until we've investigated this incident.'"

 

Following the events the elderly patient said: "Mrs. Petrie was a nice lady, did the job properly and was quietly spoken. Personally I wouldn't want to see her sacked for something like that."

 

Mrs. Petrie said: "I have trouble understanding how offering to pray for someone could be upsetting. I feel it's a nice thing to ask and a way to give hope that circumstances can change."  She says that she often offers to pray for her patients and that many take her up on it. She either prays with them or after she has left their home.

 

In October 2008 Caroline Petrie was also warned by The Trust for offering a small, home-made prayer card to an elderly, male patient, who had happily accepted it. On this occasion, the patient's carer, who was with her at the time, raised concerns over the incident. Alison Withers, Mrs. Petrie's superior at the time, wrote to her at the end of November 2008 saying: "As a nurse you are required to uphold the reputation of your profession. Your NMC [Nursing Midwifery Council] code states that 'you must demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity' and 'you must not use your professional status to promote causes that are not related to health.'" Caroline Petrie was asked to attend an equality and diversity course and warned: "If there is any further similar incident it may be treated as potential misconduct and the formal disciplinary procedure could be instigated."

 

Mrs. Petrie and her husband Stewart attend Milton Baptist Church every Sunday. "My faith got stronger and I realized God was doing amazing things in my life. I saw my patients suffering and as I believe in the power of prayer, I began asking them if they wanted me to pray for them. They are absolutely delighted."

 

Caroline Petrie has worked for The Trust since February 2008. The Christian Legal Centre is supporting Caroline Petrie in this matter.

 

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