Hospital Chaplains

Those who provide spiritual care in hospitals are known as Chaplains, although, due to the nature of their work, it may be more accurate to describe them as spiritual care providers.

Hospital chaplaincy presents an opportunity to minister to patients, staff and relatives and to be a prophetic voice within a secular institution.

It is at the cutting edge of ministry, often touching peoples' lives at times of great crisis and pain. Of the 400 whole time chaplains in the UK, there are 300 full time and 1500 part time chaplains.

Today hospital professionals are beginning to understand the importance a patient's spiritual life plays in their recovery or coping with a crisis.

Chaplains are part of the staff team and are appointed by the Hospital Trust. They have pastoral responsibility towards all patients and their relatives regardless of whether the patient is religious or not.

The size of the chaplaincy team varies. Cottage hospitals have part-time chaplains who are "on call" when they are not "on site". Larger hospitals have teams of chaplains representing the Anglican, Catholic and Free Church traditions. Patients who are members of other great world faith traditions can request to see their named spiritual advisor.

The Hospital Chaplain makes daily rounds and is available 24 hours a day to patients, family members and staff. Not being a conventional member of the healthcare team or of the patient's family, the Chaplain can objectively provide crisis intervention counseling and support.

In the often stressful and demanding hospital environment, the Chaplain is an understanding friend and confidant, who provides a listening ear and a pastoral point of view for the staff. Staff members who have no minister of their own often seek the Chaplain's counsel, especially during times of personal family need.

The Revd Noël Walter is the Anglican Chaplain at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. After ordination he completed a one month chaplaincy course at King's College Hospital and went on to spend six years as a Psychiatric Chaplain and eight years at a District General Hospital. He has been with Great Ormond Street Hospital for six years.

For Noël, the challenge is to listen to people, respond sensitively and to be with people while they search for answers. "There are no smug answers in Chaplaincy," said Noël. "Chaplaincy is about spiritual care, not religion. The Church does not have a monopoly on spirituality. "

Noël believes that a good Chaplain must hold on firmly to the love of Christ but extricate from the structures and bureaucracy of the Church. "As a Chaplain you must have the love of Jesus in your heart. You must be interested not in religion per se but in providing spiritual care. You must have no agenda of your own apart from bringing the love of Jesus to people."

Serious illness can frighten patients and isolate them from their support communities. Losses such as physical and cognitive capacities, independence and work or family status can seriously impact their sense of meaning, purpose, and personal worth. Hospital Chaplains address these crises through spiritual care that enhances connections to support communities, thus aiding healing and recovery.

Noël Walter finds it difficult when he is not able to provide people with comfort or the answers they are looking for. However, be believes that "Chaplains are not there to give advice; it is about 'being there' for people in their pain as Jesus was."

A major part of Noël's daily work is caring for sick children and their families. He often has to cope with the death of a child. "As human beings we are finite creatures. However, when death comes out of sequence, it throws up difficult questions," said Noël. While Noël finds his Christian faith of consolation, he believes that "the heart and brain are not always good bedfellows. To care pastorally and emotionally is not the same."

The role of the Hospital Chaplain is a varied one. They provide supportive spiritual care though empathic listening, demonstrating an understanding of persons in distress. Typical activities include: grief and loss care, crisis intervention, communication with caregivers, facilitation of staff communication, conflict resolution, referral and linkage to internal and external resources and staff support relative to personal crises or work stress.

For Noël Walter, a typical day involves arriving in the morning and praying with his team. Afterwards, he will 'loiter with intent' in wards, corridors and offices. "Often people ask me how I knew they wanted help and I reply 'I didn't, but God did and sent me,'" said Noël. "I have the most amazing spontaneous meetings with people in need". Other days he may be involved with baptisms, funerals, memorial services and weddings. Twice a week he teaches religious education at the hospital's school.

The work of Chaplains offers distinct benefits to patients and their family members, the professional healthcare staff, the organisation itself, and the community within which it resides.

Chaplains play an integral role in supporting and strengthening religious and spiritual resources of patients and their families. They help healthcare organizations meet patient expectations for competent, compassionate spiritual care services. They also make unique contributions to the community including: leading and participating in community wellness programs, support groups and community responses to crisis, maintaining active relationships with local clergy associations and providing community educational seminars on topics of spirituality, loss and illness.

Noël Walter states the benefits Chaplains bring in more simplistic terms. "I bring a kind loving face and a pair of good listening ears," he said.

While the role of the Hospital Chaplain is inevitably a demanding one, it also provides its own special kind of fulfilment.

Noël Walter enjoys interacting with people, so finds his position immensely rewarding. "The rapport you get from staff, parents and children makes it all worthwhile," said Noël. "There are some horrendously miserable moments but the joys outweigh them."

To find out more about the role of the Hospital Chaplain visit www.hospitalchaplain.com.