Tuesday 21 May 2019

Sarah Kuteh loses Appeal

I'm sorry to relate that Sister Sarah Kuteh has lost her appeal in the case of her discharge from the Darent Valley Hospital in Kent, see here for background: https://hpanwo-hpwa.blogspot.com/2016/12/nurse-sacked-for-praying.html. After her dismissal in 2016 Mrs Kuteh appealed through the NHS trust system and then initiated a lawsuit. The court heard that the intensive care sister endured numerous complaints about her "religious preaching". One patient described her behaviour as being "like a Monty Python skit". Despite the fact that with full training and over fifteen years of experience, she should have been an invaluable member of the hospital personnel, she was sacked. I can't help wondering if she wasn't a Christian, would this aversion be reduced? I recall from my own service that there is a wide variety of religious opinions, including non-belief, in the NHS. Some people liked to speak openly about their faith and others were more private. This sometimes included discussions with patients. I myself had some amazing conversations with patients about all kinds of subjects. The complaints made against Sister Kuteh do not appear to be that serious. The worst thing anybody said is that her actions were "very bizarre". Not "harmful" or "abusive"; just "bizarre". That doesn't sound too bad to me. What's more, the statement: "She spent more time talking about religion than doing the assessment" is mere hyperbole. How long did she spend on each? Did you time it? Give it to me in hours and minutes otherwise it is meaningless and should not be submitted as evidence. In her defence, Mrs Kuteh brought up human rights laws about religion that I discuss in the background links below. Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7053709/NHS-nurse-offered-Bible-cancer-patient-LOSES-unfair-dismissal-appeal-tribunal.html. Actually, even if the court correctly interpreted the Nursing and Midwifery Council regulations, the point hanging over this whole matter is that the NHS is incredibly selective in what it chooses to react against. My own case was similar to Sister Kuteh's except that it involved behaviour off duty, yet I was spat out with all the urgency of a mouthful of hot lava. At the same time, the health services shrug their shoulders at far more serious matters, such as appallingly low standards of performance and conduct from operatives. As I said before, my advice to anybody in the NHS is: DO NOT be good at your job. That is unless you want a very short career. Not only will they fail to respect you, they will hate you for it.

2 comments:

  1. I don’t consider myself Christian . When I trained as a mental health nurse we were issued with a personal,copy of a white Gideon bible. In a little organised class. Also we got a booklet about the main faiths including Wicca ! Told to respect the religious rights of each faith . I don’t think it’s wrong to offer comfort or empathy , but it would be wrong to preach to those not interested or seek to convert people in a vulnerable situation . I did work with one nurse who used the bible as protection against me when she was told I was lgbt ��️‍�� and thus possessed by deamons ,

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Gordon. It depends what you mean by "preach". I certainly would not tolerate a member of staff who approached me with religious propaganda in an intimidating or humiliating way. However all Sr Kuteh is described as being is "bizarre". That word does not imply a foot-in-the-door fire and brimstone type. Like with your nursing colleague. The idea that another person is possessed by demons because of their private life is to me very bizarre. But did she harass you about the matter ? If not then she has also done nothing wrong. The NHS has yet to make its policy clear on this subject and is nasty in its selectivity over who it persecutes and why.

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