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A Christian nurse claimed that she was discriminated against, bullied, pressured and eventually forced to quit her job because she did not abide by the policy of removing or covering up her cross necklace while on duty. 

Mary Onuoha, a 61-year-old London resident and nurse practitioner, has filed a lawsuit against the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. She claimed that she was told that the small golden cross that she had worn on her neck for more than 40 years as a symbol of her devout Christian faith was a safety risk and was “not visible”.

A hearing was held at the Croydon Employment Court on Tuesday.

Onuoha has been working as an NHS theatre practitioner at Croydon University Hospital in South London for the past 18 years. She claimed that she had to endure a two-year investigation process led by her superiors because she had refused to remove the pendant. 

The nurse claimed that she was eventually suspended and demoted to receptionist because she would not stop wearing the necklace, which she said left her no choice but to quit her job. 

She claimed that she was transferred from one administrative position to another before resigning in August 2020. 

She further claimed that other clinical staff in the hospital were allowed to wear jewelry, saris, headscarves, headscarves and other religious ornaments, and only the cross was subject to specific rules. 

She is represented by a lawyer from the Christian Law Center. 

"This has always been an attack on my beliefs," Onoha said in a statement. "My cross is part of my faith and me. It has never caused any harm to anyone.... In this hospital, staff members go to the mosque four times a day and no one says anything to them. India Christians wear red"

A spokesperson for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust told the media that the entity could not comment on the ongoing legal process. 

On August 21, 2018, the lawsuit stated that Onuoha was interrupted by the head of the hospital department and asked her to remove her cross while caring for anesthetized patients in the operating room. 

Onoha said that the patient's life was in danger and she was ordered to leave the operating room and wipe it again to cover up the cross. She refused again. She claimed that at the same time, her manager ignored the blue pendant and earrings worn by another medical worker in the operating room. 

According to the lawsuit, this was one of many similar incidents that occurred in theaters and wards, and Onoha said she was worried about the safety of patients. 

"I am surprised that senior staff are prepared to threaten the patient's life in order to intimidate me to remove it," Onoha said. "Patients often say to me,'I really like your cross.' They always respond to it in a positive way. It gives me happiness and makes me feel happy. I am proud to wear it because I know God loves me very much and has experienced this pain for me." 

Onuoha grew up in Nigeria. She said that she always likes to care about others naturally, because it was in her blood when she was very young. She said that after one of her brothers unfortunately died of measles due to lack of medical conditions, she was determined to become a nurse.

In 1988, she immigrated to the United Kingdom and fulfilled her ambitions, began working at Croydon University Hospital and stayed there for nearly 20 years. During that time, she reported that she was wearing her religious pendant and received no complaints or health and safety issues from colleagues or patients.

But starting in 2015, when a series of line managers allegedly asked Onuoha to remove her cross, hide it, or face an “escalation”, the situation changed.

Each time, Onoha said that she "politely" rejected these requests and explained that her necklace was a symbol of her deep-rooted Christian faith.

However, according to reports, in August 2018, the boss of the NHS Trust of Croydon Health Services ordered her to remove the cross because it “violated the trust’s dress code and uniform policy” and therefore posed a health risk to herself and the patient.

Onuoha argued in the lawsuit that NHS management violated its own dress code, stating that:

"The trust welcomes various appearances brought about by personal style, choice and religious requirements regarding dress; this will be treated sensitively and will be agreed with the manager and trust on an individual basis, and must comply with health, safety and security regulations, infection Prevention and control, and movement and handling guidelines. The wearing of saris, turbans, kirpans, capless, turbans, kippahs and clerical collars due to specific cultural/religious norms is considered part of the welcome diversity."

Contrary to this policy, the lawsuit claims that Onuoha must always wear several lanyards without strangulation buckles. At the same time, the trust fund claims that wearing items from the neck poses a "risk of injury or infection."

"What I always wanted was to be a nurse and stay true to my beliefs," Onoha explained. "I am a strong woman, but I am treated as a criminal. I love my job, but I am not prepared to compromise my faith for it, nor should other Christian NHS employees in this country do the same." 

In a letter to Onuoha on August 9, 2018, her line manager and clinical chief practitioner wrote: "I have provided you with a compromise, using a longer chain so that your necklace looks Gone, but you refused."

The letter said: "Please note that this necklace not only violates the dress code, but also poses a health and safety risk to the patient and yourself." "I know you wear the necklace because of your religious beliefs.... I am going to tell you To provide a compromise, you can wear a high-necked T-shirt so that the necklace is out of reach of potentially angry or excited patients under your v scrub. I also write to you another compromise, you can under the scrub top Wear a high-necked T-shirt/vest top to cover the necklace." 

The letter added: "I do hope you can see me trying to support your religious beliefs by allowing you to wear a necklace, but it is invisible when you perform clinical duties." "This is both to comply with infection control guidelines, It is also to protect you from possible harm when you encounter an angry patient or caregiver."

The Christian Law Center challenged the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust on the grounds of "harassment, victimization, direct and indirect discrimination, and constructive unfair dismissal."

According to reports, Onoha’s lawyers will argue that the dress code is “inconsistent. Other nurses and staff often wear various types of jewelry, headscarves, saris, headscarves, and religious bracelets in wards and theaters without being asked to remove them. they."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Law Center, said that Onoha’s case was about “one or two staff members who were offended by the cross”.

Williams said: “It’s disturbing that during the pandemic, an experienced nurse was forced to choose between faith and a passion for profession.” “Why do some NHS employers think the cross is better than other religious clothing. Isn't it worth protecting or showing?"

She added: "The treatment Mary has received over a period of time is shocking and beyond doubt." "Mary has devoted her life to caring for others and her love for Jesus. We are determined to fight for justice."

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