Nothing goes against your vow under your professional registration. If it does, you resign, not carry on. In healthcare, if we took it to its ultimate legal status, knowingly acting outside your professional obligations means no indemnity insurance and if you touch a patient in a professional capacity it is criminal assault.

In essence, nobody gives a fuck about a necklace if it is short enough not to compromise infection control measures but the nurse in question was a district nurse who was invited into homes as a nurse then offered to pray with patients and left them cards with contact details of her particular cult. Sacking was a decent compromise. The law courts were an option. I know some of the people involved in her case and their decision was in the interest of patients.

If Muslim doctors and nurses didn't put their religion to one side, men wouldn't treat women and vice versa. Obviously they are less fundamental than Christians? Or more importantly, they aren't used to the bigoted UK society pandering to their creed like Christians are.

We work hard together in The NHS and from a staff standpoint, we are inclusive and do not recognise the separate communities debates in the press. I ended the probationary period of a Muslim nurse who wouldn't wear disposable sleeves and refused to bare to the elbows. I doubt she can find work as a nurse in The UK. What was telling was the support the trust had from staff in getting rid. Even an Imam from our team chaplaincy advised that her position was untenable.

Luckily, most people with a religious conviction don't let it interfere with their profession where it could be in conflict. Aggressive cultists get no sympathy from real people. I doubt our position is unique to Bristol and every NHS trust in the country would have a similar attitude.

The Christian nurse got no support from the industry she shamed. As a nurse myself I look to employers and regulators to ensure our professional obligations are shared.