Healthcare Chaplaincy Message from Dr Simon Harrison
At this time it feels almost impossible to write a simple, clear message to Churches on behalf of Healthcare Chaplains.
Each Chaplaincy is in a different situation, whether they be acute, mental health, palliative or paediatric.
Our teams are also diverse in personality and belief tradition. Perhaps most significantly at present, each Trust is rapidly working out its own way to best deliver safe care, with models and guidance shifting on a daily basis.
Into this moving landscape, each Chaplaincy Team is needing to find new ways to fulfil our remit and our calling. In this fast changing scene, each model of Chaplaincy may look surprisingly different from that adopted in neighbouring Trusts. This said, there are common features emerging during this time:
Almost all of us are involved much more intensively with staff support.
Telephone and video working is now a significant feature, for staff, patients and relatives.
Significant infection control barriers shape how we care for all patients and families (Covid or otherwise) including those receiving end of life care.
All Chaplaincy teams, without exception, are needing to adapt and seek creative ways to deliver spiritual and emotional care.
There are perhaps just three things I would presume to ask of all those involved in leadership within the Churches during this time.
Please continue to build and expand the pastoral support networks you have in place; within and indeed beyond those in your church fellowship. Life will become extremely difficult for so many people in the coming weeks: those who are anxious, those who are poorly and those who are bereaved. We know tight restrictions on hospital visiting present families with unpalatable choices, so the support received from local church and community will be vital. I don’t think I can overstate this. On a practical note, and perhaps it is an obvious thing to say- don’t let pastoral care be led by one or two people; we need to build capacity into all systems.
If you are aware of someone in hospital that you might typically have visited- please do not seek to arrange a visit directly with wards. Capacity for staff to take calls will become increasingly short, and all hospitals take the requirement to minimise social contact very seriously. Rather, can I suggest you call your local Chaplaincy team? It is unlikely at present that they will be able to enable your personal visitation either, but they may be able to visit on your behalf (so much depends on the situation). Even if a face-to-face visit is not possible, they will almost always be able to get a message of love and prayer passed on, and if the situation is very serious, will be much better able to assess and provide care if they are armed with the knowledge of the individual you have shared. So please, do call.
Finally, do keep us in your prayers. It is an uncertain time for all of us, and the hospital badge is no guarantee that we feel safe or confident in what we do. The knowledge that our faith and belief communities are holding us in thought and prayer is a significant blessing at a time when feelings of anxiety and powerlessness affect us all.