Hospitals to ban bedside Bibles

Bosses from Leicester's three main hospitals said they were considering moving the holy book from patients' bedsides because it may cause offence and may be responsible for spreading the superbug MRSA.

Hospital bosses concerned about offending non- Christians are to discuss whether the tradition of placing copies of the Bible in people's bedside lockers should continue.

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is worried that the Gideons testaments could offend people from other faith groups who are receiving treatment.

At the same time, the trust wants to consult on whether the publications could increase the risk of spreading MRSA if they become contaminated with body fluids.

Gideons International, which distributes the Bibles widely in hospitals, hotels, cruise liners and prisons, said their removal would be "outrageous".

Iain Mair, executive director of Gideons International UK headquarters, in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, said: "We understand that the hospital authorities are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss ordering the removal of these testaments from bedsides.

"Firstly, they are saying there's a potential MRSA risk, and we say that is nonsense."

Gideons International commissioned reports from medical consultants about the potential risk which found there was no danger, Mr Mair added.

He said: "They also say its discriminating against people of other faiths. It's outrageous - political correctness gone mad. We will put notes in the lockers which will say that, if a patient wants a book of another faith, these are the people they should contact."

Mr Mair said his organisation had also agreed to the trust's request to run its volunteers through criminal records bureau checks before they are allowed to enter wards to distribute the Bibles.