|PIC1|Shirley Chaplin, 54, has worn the necklace since she became a nurse 30 years ago, but has now been told by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust Hospital that the item must be removed. The hospital claims it breaches uniform policy and is a health risk to Mrs Chaplin and patients.

“Everyone I have ever worked with has clearly known I am a Christian: it is what motivates me to care for others,” said Mrs Chaplin.

“For about 30 years I have worked in the NHS and nursed patients day and night and on no occasion has my cross caused me or anyone else, any injury – and to my knowledge, no patient has ever complained about me wearing it.

“The Trust even refused to test the ‘breaking strain’ on the necklace.”

When Mrs Chaplin asked the hospital if she could wear a cross pin on her lapel instead, she was told it would only allow a cross to be pinned inside her pocket.

According to Mrs Chaplin, other staff members have been photographed wearing necklaces and chains, while medialert chains and scarves comply with the Trust’s health and safety policy.

“This smacks of double standards and appears to discriminate against Christians,” said Mrs Chaplin.

“This blatant piece of political correctness amounts to the marginalising of employees’ personal human rights, a blanket ‘secularising and neutralising’ of the NHS intended to stop Christians from expressing their faith in the public services of the NHS.”

Her case has been taken up by the Christian Legal Centre, which also supported Christian nurse Caroline Petrie when she was suspended earlier this year for offering to pray for a patient. She was later reinstated.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, barrister and founder of CLC, said: "You cannot separate a person’s faith and motivation from other areas of their life, including what they do with the majority of their time: work.

“Unfortunately an aggressive, secularist, politically correct agenda is being driven in the NHS and other public sectors at present,” she said.

“Those wanting to promote the agenda say that it is ‘neutral’ but manifestly it is not.

“This agenda is leading to case after case of discrimination against Christians and real suffering.

“We will be assisting Shirley to hold out for her Human Rights – and expect the public en masse to do so as well.”