Diversity more important than religion, NHS staff told

AN NHS chief executive warned that “equality and diversity take precedence over religious beliefs” after a patient complained about a Catholic chaplain’s comment on same-sex relationships.

Rev Patrick Pullicino, 73, is taking legal action against an NHS trust claiming he was ousted for answering the patient’s questions on the matter.

The patient, who was in a same-sex relationship, asked the priest, a former consultant neurologist who was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2019, for his opinion on marrying his partner.

He said Dr Pullicino responded: “What do you think God would say to you about this?”

Dr Pullicino had his temporary contract at St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust terminated in January 2020 “due to budgetary constraint”.

He is now pursuing a claim against the trust for harassment, religious discrimination, and victimisation. It is to be heard in July at Croydon Employment Tribunal.

In a letter in response to the patient’s complaint, Vanessa Ford, the Trust’s acting chief executive, said its policy on equality and diversity “takes precedence over religious belief ”.

The letter also claimed the priest told the patient he “should not be with your husband” and “would go to hell”, which Dr Pullicino vehemently denies.

Dr Pullicino, who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, said: “I am determined to seek justice in this case as how I was treated was unacceptable. To see in black and white that my Christian beliefs in marriage are not on a par with equality and diversity, was shocking.

“There does not appear to be a place for Christian teaching or belief in the NHS. I hope my case sends a message to the NHS that true equality and diversity includes Christian teaching and beliefs.”

The incident at the hospital occurred in August 2019 when Dr Pullicino was assigned to visit a male patient on a mental health ward who had requested to see a Catholic chaplain.

A spokesman for the Trust said: “Whilst we can’t comment on active legal proceedings, we are absolutely committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion [EDI] for all our staff, patients and communities.

“We have an EDI policy we actively promote and with which we expect all our staff members to comply.”