UK: Muslims cover crucifix while using common prayer room; hospital porter suspended after asking them to remove cloth when they were finished
Porter in row over crucifix
A HOSPITAL porter has been suspended after a row over a crucifix being covered up in a prayer room.
The male porter had allegedly gone to use the room, which is available to visitors and staff of all faiths, at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury, Salford.When he entered the room the crucifix, which was on a table, had been covered with a cloth as several Muslims were using the room.
A source said: "The porter apparently asked them to remove the cloth when they had finished as he and others wanted to use the room later.
"There was then some kind of incident and as a result the porter was suspended. It is the talk of the hospital and many staff are astounded that the porter has been sent home, and feel he has been unfairly treated.
"It has been claimed that he was verbally abused by those in the prayer room."
Complaint
A spokeswoman for the Central Manchester and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pendlebury, said: "We have received a complaint, following an incident which occurred last week, involving one of the porters who works at the hospital. The porter has been suspended and we are currently looking into what has taken place. Until we are in receipt of the full facts we cannot provide any further detail at this time."
The porter is employed by Medirest, which supplies porters, catering staff, cleaners and grounds maintenance staff to the hospital. The company works with more than 130 NHS trusts throughout the country, plus private hospitals and residential care homes. It is part of the Compass Group which has operations in 90 countries.
Compass spokeswoman Sara Matchett said `it would be wrong' to comment as an inquiry was on-going. The porter was sent home within hours of the alleged incident and is suspended on full pay.
Another source said: "Some staff believe the porter is the victim in this situation, but because an official complaint has been made the management have had no option but to suspend him."
In October, a Manchester airport boss was suspended after he hung an image of Jesus on a staffroom wall. Car parks supervisor Gareth Langmead, who is Catholic, was sent home after a Muslim colleague complained.
He was suspended for three days while airport chiefs investigated the complaint then reinstated without a blemish on his record.