Nurse claims discrimination over cross necklace

A Christian nurse facing disciplinary action for wearing a necklace bearing a cross accepted an offer of redeployment "under duress" and has instructed lawyers to file a claim of discrimination.

Shirley Chaplin, 54, having served as a nurse for nearly 30 years, was threatened with disciplinary action after refusing to remove a necklace bearing a cross, the Christian Legal Centre (CLC) said.

Despite wearing the cross since studying to be a nurse, bosses at The Royal Devon & Exeter Trust ordered her to remove the personal item, deeming it a breach of uniform policy and a health risk to her and to patients.

Mrs Chaplin, from Exeter, Devon, claimed the demand to remove her cross was nothing to do with health and safety and was an infringement of her human rights.

She said: "This blatant piece of political correctness amounts to the marginalising of employees' personal human rights, a blanket secularising and neutralising of the NHS intended to stop Christians from expressing their faith in the public services of the NHS."

The CLC said the nurse was yesterday told she either must either accept redeployment to a non-nursing role or face the sack.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and director of the CLC which is supporting Mrs Chaplin in her case, said: "A nurse who has faithfully served members of the public in Exeter with her professional skills was forced, under duress, to agree to stand down from nursing and take up an administrative role, all because the trust would not permit her to wear a cross - the world-wide, recognised and cherished image of Christianity.

"Mrs Chaplin was left with no option other than to accept, but has (yesterday) instructed us to file for action at the Employment Tribunal for discrimination by her employers."

The CLC has also instructed barrister Paul Diamond to represent Mrs Chaplin.

Mr Diamond advised Caroline Petrie, a nurse who was suspended for offering to pray for a patient and then reinstated, and many other high profile Christian discrimination cases in recent years.

The Royal Devon & Exeter Trust was not available for comment last night.