Midwife sues hospital after being ordered to wear trousers

A midwife is suing hospital bosses after she was ordered to wear trousers which she claims goes against her Christian beliefs

Midwife Hannah Adewole is suing a hospital on the grounds that she was forced to wear trousers at work even though this goes against her Christian beliefs.

Adewole, who is suing Barking, Havery and Redbridge University Hospitals for religious discrimination, told a tribunal that a command in the Book of Deuteronomy states that people should not wear clothes designed for the other gender.

She claims that she was banned from wearing scrub dresses and was even kicked out of theatre in March 2009 by the midwife in charge because of her attire. She was then removed from the labour ward and placed in post-natal care.

The devout Christian, who stands to win thousands of pounds if her claim is successful, believes she has been treated unfairly and her religious views have not been considered.

'They would not listen and seemed angry at me. I was traumatised by the intolerance towards my religious needs,' she said.

According to the hospital, Adewole was ordered to wear scrubs trousers to prevent infection. However, the 45-year-old, who had completed many caesareans wearing a sterile gown over her sterile scrub dresses before the incident in March 2009, argued that she knew of many hospitals that allowed scrub dresses and skirts.

'I had been told at interview that dresses were available,' says Mrs Adewole. 'I felt my religious needs were being ignored and mocked.’

The Trust now claims that her religious needs have been adhered to and she has now been given two scrub dresses.

The tribunal continues.

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