Spiritual and Pastoral Care
Our team is here to support you - whatever your background or belief - during your time in hospital. Your need may be faith specific, or you may simply need someone who has time to listen and help you make sense of what is happening to you.
Staff members - click here for our Trust Intranet page: Spiritual and Pastoral Care
The services we offer – patients, staff and relatives
Being admitted to hospital can be a disorientating and unsettling experience. Everyone reacts differently to a stay in hospital.
- Chaplains provide a service of listening and ongoing pastoral support. We provide an open and non-judgemental time of listening and are ‘person centred’ in our approach.
- We offer a safe & respectful space for people to talk about whatever is on their mind. Conversations will be held in confidence unless the patient is a danger to themselves or others. In such cases we will make clear our requirement to share information with relevant personnel (such as the hospital Safeguarding Team).
- We are available for patients, staff and visitors to the Trust, including relatives. We are available 365 days of the year and maintain a 24 hour on call service. We aim to respond to urgent calls within one hour and non-urgent calls within 24 hours.
- We care for everyone regardless of age, race, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation and culture. We don’t push any religion, faith or belief but listen to everyone’s experiences and questions.
- We can provide appropriate religious support and ritual to people of faith (such as bedside Holy Communion). We will not evangelise, preach or proselytise, though are happy and qualified to speak regarding matters of faith where appropriate and should a patient wish it.
- We can offer guidance with regards to funerals and offer ongoing bereavement support.
- Our chapels and faith rooms provide a space to pray, reflect or simply to be still.
If you or a loved one is admitted to hospital and you would like to see a chaplain, please ask ward staff to make a referral to us, or you can contact us on 0115 924 9924, extension 83799 (QMC), 76187 (City) or by emailing contactachaplain@nuh.nhs.uk
Members of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care team
Meet the Team
We are a diverse team with chaplains from multiple traditions, including Christianity (various denominations) Islam, Sikhism and Buddhism.
We can cater for other faiths through our Bank Chaplains and members of local faith communities.
As well as providing ongoing pastoral care for staff, patients and relatives, members of the team are on hand to provide support and advice around religious customs, festivals and cultural requirements.
Where we're based
City Hospital
Our chapel and offices are located on North Corridor near purple entrance.
The Muslim Prayer Room is located on South Corridor (near green entrance/Sherwood Hall).
Queen’s Medical Centre
Our offices and Multi-Faith Centre (including Chapel, Mosque Mandir, Gurdwara and Synagogue) are on D Floor, East block.
Our faith rooms are usually open day and night for prayer or for a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the hospital. You are very welcome to use them, regardless of your beliefs: they are there for all.
Get in touch/referrals
Phone contact: 0115 924 9924
Extensions: 83799 (QMC) or 76187 (City)
E-mail: contactachaplain@nuh.nhs.uk
- We are on-site at both City and QMC every day between 8.30am and 4.30pm. We are also developing a presence at the Ropewalk and Treatment Centre.
- We are also available on 24 hour call-out via the main switchboard (0115 924 9924, then option 0).
- Staff can make referrals using the nervecentre system.
- For urgent requests, please contact us via switchboard (NB, if you haven’t had a response from us within 15 minutes, please make contact again).
- We have a social media presence (Twitter/Facebook) where you can find regular updates from the team, messages and reflections.
- Staff members - click here for our Trust Intranet page: Spiritual and Pastoral Care
Give us a follow!
Twitter: @chaplainsnuh
Facebook: facebook.com/chaplainsnuh
Leaving us feedback
If you would like to leave us with any feedback on our service, please follow the link below and you will taken to a short survey.
https://pmed.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/spiritual-and-pastoral-care
Training and placements
Here you can read more about the training opportunities the Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care can provide.
Staff:
We can offer appropriate training around topics such as:
- Listening skills
- Engaging in pastoral conversations
- End of life care
- Grief and loss
- Providing spiritual care
- Meeting religious needs
Revd. Andy Scholes is our lead on staff training. Do get in touch with him to discuss your requirements: Andy.Scholes@nuh.nhs.uk or by calling 0115 924 9924, extension 83799
Placements:
As part of a teaching hospital, we are keen to encourage placements from anyone interested in exploring a possible vocation within chaplaincy. This may take the form of a couple of days ‘shadowing’ or it may involve a longer substantive placement as part of ministerial training.
Please get in touch with Andrew Keith, Head of Service, to have an informal conversation: andrew.keith@nuh.nhs.uk or by calling 0115 924 9924, extension 83799.
Frequently asked questions
“I don’t have a faith or religious belief, but would really like someone to talk to.”
That’s absolutely fine! We are here for all patients, regardless of your personal beliefs.
“My loved one is approach the end of their life. They are Roman Catholic and would appreciate the Last Rites. Can you help with this?”
We certainly can. Though you are welcome to have your own parish priest attend, we have Roman Catholic clergy who will attend the hospital to administer the Sacrament of the Sick (colloquially known as the Last Rites).
“I’m a staff member going through a difficult time. Can I make use of the chaplaincy service?”
Absolutely – we are here for staff as well as patients and have found that our level of staff support has increased during the pandemic. We would be pleased to meet you on your ward or you might prefer to come to one of the rooms in the chaplaincy department. Please do get in touch with us.
“I found a real connection with x chaplain. Can I receive visits only from them please?”
We are so pleased you found a visit from our chaplain helpful. We work as a team and many of our chaplains work across both sites. We cannot promise that you will receive a visit from the same individual chaplain again – however they are all lovely!
“Being in hospital has raised all sorts of questions about things I’ve done in my life. I really need someone to help me think them through but I’m scared of being judged.”
We offer a person-centred, non judgemental approach. We promise to listen to you without judgement and, where appropriate, may offer reflective conversation to help you in your thinking. Above all: you set the content and direction of a conversation.
“My loved one is currently in A & E but we‘re not allowed to be with them. Can chaplaincy assist?”
Yes we can. Do get in touch with us and we would be pleased to visit them.
“My father was supported well by the chaplains before he passed away in hospital. We would love it if you could do his funeral.”
We are so pleased your father found our support helpful. In some circumstances it may be appropriate for the hospital chaplain to be involved with funeral services. However we generally seek to encourage the funeral ministries of local religious ministers and civil celebrants. We are however happy to facilitate introductions to celebrants and local funeral directors.
“I really think my brother would benefit from having someone to pray with. He doesn’t really have faith but I think prayer would be really helpful to him.”
Though we would be very happy to visit your brother, he would need to consent to a visit. Any conversation about faith, religion or prayer would need to come from him. We are not there to impose any faith belief framework or practices.
“Does the appearance of someone in a clerical / dog collar mean I’m about to die?”
We recognise that for many, seeing someone in a dog (clerical) collar can bring with it all sorts of connotations. Many of clergy are ordained and will wear the dog collar to indicate their role.
Though it is true we are sometimes called to be with someone as they approach the end of their life, a minister or priest turning up at your bedside does not mean anything other than they have come to visit you.
Feedback
SPC needs your feedback!
In order to improve our service, your feedback (whether as a staff member or as a patient) is invaluable.
We'd welcome any comments via our survey: https://pmed.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/spiritual-pastoral-care
Regular services
Holy Communion
Holy Communion is regularly brought to the bedside. Though we aim for this to take place on Sundays, it may be necessary for it to occur on another day. We are also happy to arrange Communion at other times (such as before going in for surgery).
Please get in touch with us if this is something you might like.
Jummah Prayers
Timings for Friday Jummah Prayers are 1pm and 1.30pm for both sites, with an additional time of 2pm for QMC. To comply with COVID restrictions, the prayers will operate on a first come first served basis, and this will be monitored by the Imam on the given day.
The capacity for each session is 15 and you will be required to leave your contact details with the Imam.
Spiritual and Pastoral Care Resources
Below are some useful resources from the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team at NUH, and other external sources.
5 Minute Meditation
Patient Support Video
Resources for those affected by suicide:
Poems
This is the Time to be Slow - J O'Donohue
https://youtu.be/E2rCwxBA1NA
In this Earth - Rumi
https://youtu.be/k5xZsl4E9BM
Wild Geese - M Oliver
https://youtu.be/siXNVMk8M7Q
And Still - Hafez
https://youtu.be/fwmZ4Ui5OIk
Three Things - H James
https://youtu.be/rNIwF6WkSFg
The Guest House - by Rumi
Let there be - by J O'Donohue
When I am Among the Trees - by M Oliver
Readings
A short Blessing
https://youtu.be/wxtgA-YNa8A
Psalm 23
https://youtu.be/vO2T399xKgk
The Lord’s Prayer
https://youtu.be/JOf6tFS2ApM
5 min Breathing Meditation
Body Scan Meditation
Buddhist resources
Christian Prayer resources
- Northumbria Community Daily Prayer
- Church of England Daily Prayer
- Methodist Church Prayer of the Day
- The Methodist Church
- Roman Catholic Daily Prayer
CitySikhs update for the Sikh Community
Muslim resources
Baby Loss Resources
Some pregnancies end with the loss of a wanted baby for many reasons and at different stages of pregnancy, labour or after birth.
If you require support, please click the link below for resources and help.
Services of Remembrance for Babies 2022
We are pleased that our annual baby Services of Remembrance for Babies and Children will once again be 'in person.'
Services of Remembrance for Babies will be on 27th November (City) 11th December (QMC).
The Service of Remembrance for Children at QMC will be on 4th December.
For each, we're having two services on site at 11.30am & 2.30pm. They will also be live-streamed.
Due to limited space in the chapels, booking is essential (please follow links below.)
Baby Service (City): 27th November
Baby Service (QMC): 11th December
Children's Service (QMC): 4th December
DisabledGo
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