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Saturday, April 26, 2008

NHS Lothian and Ramadan - Statement

Grund Comment: It has been brought to my attention that the story Daily Express- Doctors give in to Muslims  which I posted on 9/11/07 was not correct. I posted the statement below the purple text.

One of my questions: why are not emails sent from top management to senior managers about the sensitivities to Jews cultural issues or Hindu cultural issues or Buddhist cultural issues or Christian cultural issues?

When my CIO (my boss) gets an email from the CEO (*his* boss) suggesting that he do something, you darn well know that the CIO will take it as a "do it" type suggestion, kinda like the "i'm volunteering you' type thing.

So although the particulars may be incorrect, the essence of the article is correct.

One group, based on religion is making everyone else jump through hoops.

NHS Lothian and Ramadan - Statement

THERE is no question - despite reports in the national and local media - that staff in NHS Lothian have been ordered not to eat at their desks for fear of offending Muslim colleagues. Nor is there any question that NHS Lothian will be moving vending machines.

However NHS Lothian has a duty to be sensitive to needs of people of all faiths and no faith.

This story stems from an email sent to NHS Lothian and other health boards by a private public affairs consultancy. This email gave helpful background information to organisations across Scotland about Ramadan, a major Muslim religious celebration.

The email contained information on the requirements placed on Muslim colleagues and patients in observing Ramadan.

It contained a couple of suggestions for maintaining productivity. It suggested that working lunches could be difficult for Muslim colleagues who would be fasting, if observing the celebration. It also suggested organisations should consider, if felt appropriate, temporarily changing the route of food trolleys to be sensitive to colleagues who adhere to the Muslim faith. These suggestions - not orders - have been greatly exaggerated in the media and given a force they do not have.

The email was forwarded to a small number of senior managers across NHS Lothian for background information only.

It was not forwarded as a policy directive, nor was it in any way an official NHS Lothian document.

15 August 2007

NHS Lothian and Ramadan - Statement

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