A CHRISTIAN hospital worker is facing the sack after refusing orders to remove her crucifix on health and safety grounds.

Helen Slatter 43, was told by bosses at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital to remove her cross as it 'could harbour infection'.

She was summoned to a disciplinary meeting and warned she would be sent home unless she took it off.

Slatter, a devout Catholic, claims she is being forced to choose between her faith and her job.

She has worked at the hospital for five years as a phlebologist, collecting blood from patients.

The 43-year-old, from Robinswood, told the Gloucestershire Echo: “I just feel it is so wrong - I have always worn my cross inside my uniform and it means alot to me. They have told me I can carry it in my pocket but it isn’t the same.

“My faith is important to me but I’m not a bible basher and don’t push it onto colleagues. Now I have to choose between my job and my faith. It is an awful situation.”

Divorced Ms Slatter, who has a 15-year-old daughter, said today she had not been back to work since May 12 and was signed off with stress.

She added: “There was a meeting yesterday where they enforced the fact that if I go back wearing my crucifix, I will be sent home.

“I’ve been told that this could go down the route of disciplinary procedure. In that end that means losing my job.

“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.

“Now I have been advised to contact an employment lawyer to fight my corner.”

Gloucestershire NHS Trust have defended their action saying that all necklaces are banned for health and safety reasons.

An Trust spokesman said: “The issue is not one of religion. The trust employs a uniform policy which must be adhered to at all times.

“Necklaces and chains present two problems - firstly they provide a surface that can harbour and spread infections and

secondly they present a health and safety issue whereby a patient could grab a necklace or chain and cause harm to a member of staff.”

Hospital staff are only allowed to wear one pair of plain ear studs and one band-type ring on the the ring finger, the trust added.

Slatter's case echoes that of Nadia Eweida an employee of British Airways who was banned from wearing her crucifix to work.

The firm were concerned that the cross would offend other faiths.

They were later forced to reverse their decision and changed company policy to allow religious symbols.