Department of Spiritual Care (Chaplaincy)

Introduction

Coming into hospital can be an unsettling experience. During your stay or that of your relative or friend, the Spiritual Care (Chaplaincy) Team is here to support you in your own spiritual, pastoral and religious beliefs. We are here to support people of any faith or none.

When your hospital admission is being arranged you should be asked for your religion and if the chaplain can be informed of these details. These questions should also be checked with you on admission to the hospital ward. However, these questions are simply a legal requirement and do not guarantee that the chaplains will know that you are in hospital. If you do not make a special request on the ward that the chaplain be informed or tell us yourself we will not know that you are in hospital and cannot support your spiritual needs.

Contact Us

If you wish to tell us in advance that you or your loved one is coming into hospital and to arrange for your spiritual care while you are with us, please refer to the contact details below.

Whatever your personal faith, religion or beliefs if you would like to see one of us while you are in hospital please specifically ask a member of the nursing staff to contact the spiritual care team on your behalf to let us know of your request.

As part of your ongoing care assessment during your stay nursing staff may ask if you have any spiritual needs or concerns and how the hospital may help. You can use this opportunity to let staff know if you would like to see a chaplain, attend a hospital service or receive a specific visit from your own faith leader.

In an emergency a duty chaplain is always available and can be contacted by the ward staff or via the switchboard. Please see details below.

The Spiritual Care (Chaplaincy) Team

A Christian chaplain is available and a team of volunteer chaplaincy visitors regularly visit the wards. You can ask the staff to contact us at any time and even if you previously indicated that you did not need to see a chaplain you are free to change your mind. Roman Catholic Priests can be contacted on request and we can also contact representatives for most of the main faith groups on your behalf.

The Spiritual Care Team is available to offer you a confidential listening service and can talk through any concerns or issues you may have. We are always willing to pray with you and to arrange any spiritual, pastoral or religious care appropriate to your needs. As part of this care we regularly offer Holy Communion and prayer on the wards for members of the Christian tradition. If you need any particular items or dietary requirements which assist you in your religious observances please let one of the chaplains know. We can also contact local faith representatives on your behalf to arrange a visit subject to your consent.

Spiritual Care Policy for the Trust

• Spiritual Care Policy

At Gloucestershire Royal there is a Chapel in the Tower entrance and a Muslim prayer hall near Fosters restaurant.

At Cheltenham General there is a Chapel in West Block near the Blue Spa restaurant.

Both Chapels are available 24 hours a day for use as a place for quiet reflection and prayer. There are diaries and prayer trees available for you and your family or friends to let us know your prayer requests.

Messages for the chaplains can also be left in the red boxes outside each chapel office.

The conference room at Delancey Hospital is used each Wednesday afternoon as a Chapel where a service of Holy Communion is held.

If you wish to come to any services whilst you are a patient please let the ward staff know and ask them to inform the chaplains.

Contact the Chaplains

The Hospital Chaplains can be contacted in the following ways: -

Emergency Contact via Switchboard

08454 22 2222 Ask for the operator who can contact the duty chaplain on your behalf.