The chaplaincy service is both a ‘place’ and ‘a team of individuals’ waiting to be of assistance to you.
Setting:
As far as its setting is concerned, you will find the chaplaincy suite, which includes a chapel (St Bede’s Chapel -available for anyone to use) and prayer room, with washing facilities. All of this, along with the chaplains offices, are on the main concourse opposite main reception in the Hylton Road block. The chapel is open for private prayer, or merely as a place to find some refuge in this busy hospital, till 10pm at night ( and after that by contacting security also situated near reception).
During the week there are services held in the chapel area such as Roman Catholic Mass on Thursdays at noon; Holy Communion – Tuesdays at noon; and Moslem “Friday prayers” at 1 pm. Details of all the regular services can be found displayed in the chapel. Also, you will find there a pin board, and cards, which you are invited to use for prayer requests. There are also referral cards, which you can use to contact the chaplains (either leave your message at their office or at main reception).
In the course of a week, the chaplaincy team work throughout the hospital site and are pleased to visit anyone brought to their attention, or who require a sacramental ministry such as Holy Communion. Unfortunately the methods used for recording a person’s religion in hospital are not sensitive enough to alert the chaplaincy to a particular need and therefore we do ask that you bring anyone whom you know would appreciate a visit to our attention. (Telephone numbers: external 0191 5699180; internal extn. 49180. An answerphone service is available)
People
The chaplaincy team comprises both volunteers and salaried staff. It is thanks to those who volunteer and undergo training, that it is possible for more patients to have direct care from people who share a spiritual outlook on life. Over-arching all this effort are the paid chaplains who come from various backgrounds and traditions, but whose task is to meet spiritual and pastoral needs as they arise 24/7. This may be patients; visitors or staff whom they encounter and the setting may be the ward; a department or a home visit.
Whatever the need, the response will be an assessment made by someone well trained and experienced with the aim of providing timely and appropriate care. If we cannot supply spiritual guidance from our own knowledge or faith – base, then the chaplain will act as a point of contact with local resources drawing from faith communities around. All of this, however, is with the agreement of patients or their carers so that confidentiality is maintained.
The Chaplains are full members of the Trust’s workforce and therefore come under all hospital policies, and as such are also members of the multi-disciplinary team seeking to re-enforce the holistic vision that drives the care of patients and families attending the hospitals. If YOU wish to know more of what is done through the chaplaincy then do contact us (use the numbers above or bleep the duty chaplain for urgent calls via the switchboard – 0191-5656256). We are delighted to share the vision that stimulates our work, and welcome contact with prospective volunteers or enquiries about any of our activities.