Muslim nurses CAN cover up... but Christian colleagues can't wear crucifixes

Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to wear long sleeves for religious reasons - despite the risk of spreading deadly superbugs.

The Department of Health will allow female Muslim staff to opt out of a strict NHS dress code to cover their arms and protect their modesty.

But campaigners warn that the NHS is putting lives at risk because guidance that all staff should be 'bare below the elbow' was introduced after long sleeves were blamed for spreading MRSA.

Warning: Campaigners say that the NHS is putting lives at risk because guidance that all staff should be 'bare below the elbow' was introduced after long sleeves were blamed for spreading MRSA

The change has been brought in after some female Muslims objected to being forced to bare their arms on wards. The Department of Health has also relaxed its no jewellery rule to let Sikhs wear their Kara bangles as long as they can be pushed up to the elbow when dealing with patients.

The policy is in stark contrast to the treatment of nurse Shirley Chaplin who last week lost her discrimination battle against Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Trust which claimed the cross she wore round her neck was a 'hazard' in case it scratched patients.



Last night she accused the NHS of 'double standards.' She added: 'What can you say? It seems that life is stacked up against Christians these days.'



Scrubbed up well: Surgeons in short sleeves washing hands before operation

Derek Butler, chairman of the MRSA Action UK, a group headed by respected microbiologist Hugh Pennington, said: 'Anything such as jewellery, long sleeves and ties can harbour bacteria and transfer superbugs to patients. This is why they should be banned for all staff regardless of their religion.'

The new guidance says staff can wear uniforms with long sleeves as long as they roll them up securely above their elbows to wash and when they are on wards.

Those wanting to stay covered up when dealing with patients can use special disposable 'over sleeves.'

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'The overall purpose of the guidance, to ensure patient safety by adherence to good hand hygiene, is not prejudiced by the additional dress options that have now been identified.'