With fasting in the month of Ramadan obligatory for all adult Muslims, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust have worked with the Lancashire Council of Mosques and Muslim faith leaders to offer advice to both patients and staff.
With Ramadan falling at the longest time of year, fasts will be up to 20 hours long, and there are a number of issues Muslim patients and Trust staff and managers need to keep in mind.
This year Ramadan will start around 14/15 May and will finish on or around June 14 or 15. Fasting commences at dawn and ends at sunset. Each fast will get later as the month progresses. You can refer to the Islamic Prayer Timetable here.
The Festival of EID may fall on either 14 or 15 June 2018.
Please read the staff and managers briefing below.
· Frequently Asked Questions www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyramadan/Pages/faqs.aspx
· Fasting Health Risks www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyramadan/Pages/fastinghealthrisks.aspx
· Quit Smoking during Ramadan
Contact the ELHT Smoke free service Smokefreeservice@elht.nhs.uk
· Ramadan and diabetes
www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/ramadan
The above answers have been put together by medical experts and Islamic scholars and researchers.
Finally we wish all Muslims to have a blessed and generous Ramadan and for fasting to be a means of attaining piety.