London, Dec.4: Keen to provide a comfortable stay for Muslim patients in hospitals, Britain’s National Health Service has ordered nursing staff to stop all medical work five times every day to allow the patients’ to pray with their faces facing Mecca.

The lengthy procedure, which also includes providing fresh bathing water, is creating turmoil among overstretched staff in NHS wards, reports The Daily Express.

The Mid- Yorkshire NHS Trust says the rule must be applied whenever possible.

The taxpayer-funded training programme for several hundred-hospital staff has begun to ensure that all are familiar with the workings of the Muslim faith.

The scheme is initially being run at Dewsbury and District Hospital, West Yorkshire, but is to be introduced at other hospitals in the New Year.

Last night critics slammed the procedure and claimed the NHS would be better off investing its resources elsewhere.

One experienced nurse working at Dewsbury said: “It would be easier to create Muslim-only wards with every bed facing Mecca than have to deal with this.

In accordance with the rules of Islam, Muslims are required to pray five times a day. The religion dictates they must wash themselves in running water prior to prayer and must be facing in the direction of Mecca while praying.

Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is revered as the birthplace of the prophet Mohammed, who was born around 570 AD. (ANI)