Nurse quits job over crucifix ban

Devout Helen Slatter, 43, was told by Gloucestershire Royal Hospital the necklace posed a health and safety risk and could even be used as weapon.

Ms Slatter, a blood sampler - or phlebologist - was not content to accept the hospital's offer that she wear the emblem in her pocket and has now resigned.

The mother of one said she was not willing to choose between her job and her religion, despite the NHS trust insisting the issue was about safety, not faith.

The divorcee told the Gloucestershire Echo: "They made it clear that if I went back the hospital would send me home if I was wearing my crucifix.

"I am not willing to stop wearing it, so I have been left with no choice but to leave my job. They are the NHS and aren't going to back down - I'm not sure if I'd want to work somewhere where I had been treated like this anyway."

When the deadlock occurred last month Mrs Slatter, who worked at the hospital for five years said: "I've always worn my cross and I've always been a Christian. It is important to me. I've worked here for 15 months and if it was an issue, why didn't they let me know in the interview? The NHS have spent money training me."

The cross was worn under the uniform, said Ms Slatter who attends St Peter's Catholic Church in London Road.

If she had come back wearing the cross the hospital would have sent her home for reasons of "health and safety and infection control", she revealed.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire NHS Trust confirmed that she had handed in her notice. An "informal" non-disciplinary meeting last month failed to reach a solution, the trust said. A fuller statement is expected.