London: An Indian-origin nurse in Britain has been dismissed for suggesting during a training session that patients could alleviate stress by going to church.
Anand Rao, 71, who has been a nurse for over 40 years in the National Health Service in Leicester, reportedly made the comment during a role-play training session in which people played patients with life-threatening conditions.
He told a woman playing a heart patient that she should go to church to alleviate stress. He was suspended by the NHS Trust after course directors complained, and was later dismissed after a disciplinary hearing.
Rao told the local media that he hoped the NHS would "see common sense" and give him his job back. He said, "I feel very upset. The dismissal seems so unfair."
"This was a theoretical exercise, a role-play, not real patients -- it's unbelievable that this could end up the way it has. This is all very upsetting.
Being a pensioner, I want to work and provide a better life for my family after retirement. I want to carry on doing what I've loved doing for 40 years," Rao added.
Claiming that he had been discriminated against, Rao said his advice was in the best interests of the patient, and added that the NHS should not discriminate against Christian nurses who suggest to non-objecting patients that going to church might relieve stress.
The NHS trust defended its decision, saying it was not the first time Rao has breached its code of conduct.
Kate Bradley, a spokesperson for the trust, said, "The incident which led to the launch of the investigation, was unfortunately not the first.
Since joining us in 2005, Rao had continuously shown disregard for the Nursing and Midwifery's code of conduct, which he had breached on more than one occasion."
"Mr Rao was given every opportunity to assure us this would not happen again, but he was unable to do so and showed little regard for the standards of care and professionalism that are expected of him as a nurse," Bradley said.