Muslim Staff Exempt From NHS Hygiene Rules

Female Muslim medical staff are not required to comply with a NHS hygiene rule meant to protect patients from getting sick and/or dieing from superbug infections. My hope is that the regulatory group did not just bow to political correctness pressure and determined that bear arms were no better at preventing the spread of the germs then clothed arms. Given that the requirement is still in place for everyone else, I highly doubt that is the case.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7576357/Muslim-staff-escape-NHS-hygiene-rule.html

"Female staff who follow the Islamic faith will be allowed to cover their arms to preserve their modesty despite earlier guidance that all staff should be "bare below the elbow".

The Department of Health has also relaxed rules prohibiting jewellery so that Sikh members of staff can wear bangles linked with their faith, providing they are pushed up the arm while the medic treats a patient.
...
The rules were drawn up to reduce the number of patients who were falling ill, and even dying, from superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile."