TWO nurses at Whiston Hospital have been suspended from their jobs after refusing to remove nose studs.

Hospital officials say the decision to suspend auxilliary staff, Barbara Mower, from Thatto Heath, and Mandy Childs, from Prescot, was taken after the pair ignored a request that they remove the studs during working hours.

A spokesman for Whiston Hospital told the Star: "The issue of nose studs came to our attention when a member of staff brought up the subject with a nursing director. As a result, we prepared a survey which was sent out to 70 representatives of the nursing staff asking them whether they would like the rules on facial jewellery relaxed. However, of that 70, only one said they would like us to relax the existing rules and the rest were in favour of leaving things as they are.

"Letters were sent out to all nurses who wear the studs, but unfortunately, Ms Mower and Ms Childs decided to carry on wearing studs."

Both women, who work as auxilliary nurses in a general medical ward, will attend a disciplinary hearing at Whiston Hospital later today (Thursday, June 13).

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