Fateh
Some of you may know that Health Sect Alan Alan Johnson today has announced that in order to help combat MRSA he is overhauling the way we dress. This is from Reuters:
Under a "bare below the elbow" dress-code unveiled by Health Secretary Alan Johnson, every doctor, nurse and therapist will also be banned from wearing watches, jewellery such as rings and bracelets, and neckties.
Now, on a personal note I like my ties (collection built up thanks to Asian weddings), beautiful cuffs (testimony to my ironing skills), expensive watch (better than yours) and on occassional nippy nights - my white (god like)coat...But joking aside, how is this going to impact on those of us who wear Karas?
The dress culture change will be ordered by draft documentation or via the DoH instructing StHAs in January 2008. There is no way my Kara presents a health risk - it is steel and can be washed, it can be pulled midway up my forearm, out of the way and thus not come into contact with a patient during examination - and so what if it does touch someone - as some would say it divinely blesses them (I think I'm still joking on that point!).
I shall address this to the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP via letter to outline my concern that this is an article of faith, which is inseperable from a baptised Sikh and is worn by most non baptised Sikhs and should be protected as such, under any dress code legislation. If my fellows feel likewise then I reccommend they do the same by contacting him.
