NHS worker who gave Muslim colleague Christian book loses appeal against suspension

Victoria Wasteney was found guilty by her employer for 'harassing and bullying' a work friend

Ms Wasteney was suspended for nine months (Victoria Wasteney/ Facebook )

A Christian NHS worker, who was suspended after giving a religious book to a Muslim colleague, has lost her appeal against a ruling that the decision was lawful.

Victoria Wasteney, was found guilty in 2014 by her employer, the East London NHS Foundation Trust, for "harassing and bullying" a work friend.

The 39-year-old had given her colleague a book about a Muslim woman's encounter with Christianity.

Ms Wasteney was suspended for nine months and given a written warning, even though the woman had reportedly been happy to discuss faith with her and never gave evidence about her allegations to the NHS.

Ms Wasteney, a senior occupational therapist, challenged the decision at an employment tribunal last year, but it ruled that her employer had not discriminated against her.

A judge gave her the chance to appeal, saying a hearing should consider whether the original ruling had correctly applied the European Convention on Human Rights' protection of freedom of religion and expression.

However Judge Eady QC dismissed the appeal in a hearing in central London on Thursday.

Following the decision, Ms Wasteney, from Epping, Essex, said: "What the court clearly failed to do was to say how, in today's politically correct world, any Christian can even enter into a conversation with a fellow employee on the subject of religion and not, potentially, later end up in an employment tribunal.

"If someone sends you friendly text messages, how is one to know that they are offended? I had no idea that I was upsetting her."

The Christian Legal Centre, which supported Ms Wasteney, said her treatment raised "serious concerns" that political correctness in the NHS is stifling discussion of faith.

Additional reporting by Press Association