A 45 year old community nurse was suspended in December 2008 simply for offering to pray for a patient. Caroline Petrie, a committed Christian, had finished attending to the patient's dressings at her home. The patient politely refused and was not offended, but mentioned the incident to another nurse in passing. Petrie was subsequently suspended. However, after much publicity and overwhelming public support, she was soon reinstated by North Somerset Primary Care Trust.

Petrie's case comes amidst the recent Department of Health publication of Religion or belief: a practical guide for the NHS. It contains much that is useful and welcome, but Christians may have concerns about the potential implications of certain sections. This may be a timely call to vigilance regarding the freedom to live out our faith in the NHS.

• telegraph.co.uk 2009; 7 February
• ccfon.org 2009; 6 February
• dailymail.co.uk 2009; 2 February,
• cmf.org.uk 2009; January