RAMADAN 2020 GUIDANCE MANAGERS & STAFF - For further information contact
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RAMADAN 2020
GUIDANCE
MANAGERS & STAFF
For further information contact: Equality@pat.nhs.ukWhy have we produced this briefing?
Religion and belief is one of the main strands
As a diverse employer, we value the diversity of our of diversity, and festivals like Ramadan, Easter,
employees and recognise that most religions or Yom Kippur, Vaisakhi and Diwali, and the
beliefs have special spiritual observance or holy days other religious days and periods give us an
when staff may wish to request flexible working in opportunity not just to support those who
order to observe the spiritual ritual or attend the observe them, but also to learn and
associated ceremonies or festivals. understand more about the people we work
with and serve.
This briefing is intended for managers and staff who Guidance for Ramadan continues to reflect
have colleagues who are Muslim and will be fasting current practice as many will be aware there
during the month of Ramadan. are many exemptions and anyone who is
feeling unwell due to COVID19 would be
It is intended to increase understanding about the included in the exemption categories.
month of Ramadan and offers advice on how to be
supportive of colleagues and provides guidance on The ultimate choice is down to the individual
dealing with patients who may fasting during this but if they have been given medical advice not
month. to fast then that advice should be upheld and
followed through.
If you require any further information please contact the
Chaplaincy or Equality teamRamadan what is it about?
What is Ramadan? What do you give up?
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic During Ramadan many Muslims will
lunar year. It is a month of fasting, a duty consider it an obligatory duty to fast from
upon all adults and healthy Muslims. In the dawn to dusk. For all adult Muslims (who
UK, Ramadan will start on either 24th /25th have reached puberty) must give up:
April 2020.
What is a fast? • Food or drink of any sort.
The fast last between dawn and sunset. It is • Smoking (and preferably avoiding passive
a total fast with complete abstinence from all smoking).
food and drink
• Intimate activities.
How long does Ramadan last?
It lasts 29 or 30 days. The end of Ramadan is
marked by the festival of Eid-Ul-Fitr for which
some Muslim staff members will wish to take
leave from work.Who is exempted from Fasting?
Children who are not adolescent yet;
The elderly and chronically ill for whom fasting is
unreasonably strenuous;
Anyone who is ill/sick (can defer their fast and make
them up later)
Traveller on a journey (can defer their fast and make
them up later) Women during the period of menstruation or of
post childbirth confinement. Fasting during these
periods is forbidden and should be made up later, a
Pregnant women and nursing may postpone the day for a day
fasting at a later time
Each situation needs to be judged on its own merits; therefore it is advisable to consult with the Imam in the
Chaplaincy Team for more clarification on exemptionsImpact of Fasting on Medical Assessments
1.Eating or drinking intentionally
CLINICAL •Using Aspirin
FASTING 2.Taking oral medication
INTERVENTION •Glucogon (IM)
WILL BREAK 3.Providing nourishing medication WOULD BREAK •Glucose drip (IV)
WHEN: 4.Smoking THE FAST:
•Glucose drinks
5.Using vaginal or rectal pessaries
• GTN (Glycerin Tri Nitrate)
• Administering injections • Treating wounds
(intravenous, intramuscular and • Rectal Diazepam
FASTING subcutaneous) CLINICAL • Nebulisers and Oxygen
INTERVENTION
WILL NOT • Taking bloods (thumb pricks or • Ventolin sprays / Salbutamol
WHICH WILL
BREAK intravenous) NOT BREAK • Saline infusion (IV)
WHEN: • Using puffers and inhalers or eye THE FAST: • Morphine (IV)
and ear drops • Diazepam
• Adrenaline
• Eating or drinking unintentionally
• BenzylPenicilliStaff Guidance Should I tell my manager and colleagues I am How do I manage fasting at work? fasting? Plan your leave wisely: Whether its to book time off Yes - By discussing it with your manager you during Ramadan or for Eid-Ul-Fitr, planning your leave may find that they are willing to consider a early is important. flexible working arrangement such as early Eating well: Eating healthily and drinking lots of start/ finish, shorter lunch or something else water(between sunset and sunrise) will boost your which will help you during the month of energy Ramadan. Meal Breaks: if you are scheduled a meal break and As rotas and workplans are developed for the you are fasting, consider alternatives to eating – try Easter period, it may be that we ask for some and find a quite space for relaxation. flexibility from colleagues in relation to planned leave to ensure that operational requirements are met given our current challenges in a Thank you in advance for any support and flexibility collective effort to support one another and to you are able to give and for your continued hard ensure our essential services and safe patient work. care are maintained. This will be discussed locally by your line managers.
Managers Guidance
THE
FAST
• Consideration should be given to allowing breaks at
different times of day to support Muslim staff.
WILL
AsBREAK
a supportive employer the Trust
recognises
WHEN:
it is good practice to • Consider sensitively any requests for annual leave
accommodate these requests wherever or shift swaps for Eid ul Fitr marking the end of
possible. Ramadan
Staff will already be working outside
their normal practices due to COVID19 • Consider flexible working or changing shift rotas to
please make any reasonable accommodate breaking the fast at the end of each
adjustments needed to support staff day where this is possible
who will be fasting in particular
addressing working patterns or break • Consider allowing variation/flexibility to work
periods. patterns to pray especially at sunset when it is time
to break fast
• Allowing meal breaks at different times, for
example lunch break at duskGuidance From Scholars
We strongly recommend you engage
If it is not possible for you to fast due to the constructively with your employers and agree
strong likelihood of dehydration and severe a work plan that is not detrimental to the lives
thirst along with the risk of making clinical of patients.
errors which could potentially affect lives, the As professionals, you are aware of your
fasts can be postponed to a later date. personal circumstances and the evolving
THE FAST WILL BREAK WHEN: situation of the pandemic more than anyone
This is a judgement you need to make on a else, and it is therefore upon each of you to
personal level based on your own health whilst judge and decide how best to proceed.
keeping in mind your duty of care to patients Hospitals are also requested to allow individual
employees to make their own decision and be
flexible in so far as practically possible, without
risking patient care.
https://islamicportal.co.uk/fasting-in-ramadan-
for-covid-19-doctors-and-nurses/You can also read
