Chaplaincy, Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Room

Who are we?

There are currently three chaplains who work part-time at the hospital, and are based at churches in the local area.

Lead Chaplain - Reverend Simon Airey, Christian/Anglican
Reverend Gareth Huws, Christian, Welsh-speaking Free Church
Reverend Philip Kuzhiparambil, Roman Catholic Chaplain

There are also volunteer chaplains who are part of the Chaplaincy Team.

Petra McMahon – Christian/Baptist
Denise Burchinshaw – Christian/Baptist
Kevin Ellis-Anderson – Christian/Anglica
Mike Haddaway – Christian/Anglican
Helen Morris – Christian/Roman Catholic
Hilary Prescott – Christian/Anglican
Janet Thelwell – Christian/Baptist
Lake Beckley - Buddhist
Ffion Wells - Christian/Welsh-speaking Free Church

What do we do?

We are available to both patients and staff for listening and conversation through our regular presence on the hospital inpatient wards and through appointments.

Appointments can be made in via a member of the team, through the nursing team or by calling 01691 404249 (internal ext. 4249).

We aim to meet people at the point of their individual need, giving them pastoral, emotional and spiritual support as appropriate. We respect the beliefs of everyone, and will not share our own personal faith, unless invited to do so.

We encourage those of religious belief to tap into the resources of their own faith. For Christians, we can offer particular guidance, bedside prayer or Holy Communion. We also offer prayers in the Multi-Faith Room.

How to contact us?

You can contact the team via phone on 01691 404249 (internal ext. 4249).

We can also be contacted via the nursing and other members of staff in the hospital.

Multi-Faith Room and Chaplaincy Services

The Multi-Faith Room is situated at the east end of the main corridor, at Location 36. It is open 24 hours a day for all to use, to pray or as a place to be quiet. We occasionally see members of staff or visitors to the hospital there. There is also a contemplation garden leading off.

For prayer requests, there are 3 options: a pebble pool, battery operated candles, and prayer hearts (where a message can be written).

A chaplain is usually available onsite from Monday to Friday, between 10am and 4pm. To request a visit, either inform a member of the ward staff, or ring 01691 404249 (internal ext. 4249). If in dire need, a chaplain can be summoned through the hospital Switchboard.

Sunday services have now resumed at 11am on the first Sunday of the month. They will take place in the Veterans' Hub, in the Headley Court Veterans' Orthopaedic Centre. This is a half hour service of Christian worship, which may vary in style, but should be suitable for all.

A short service of morning prayer is held on Fridays at 7:30am, and usually over by 7:50am. This allows staff to attend who start work at 8am.

Holy Communion and or prayer can be offered at the bedside if requested.

Muslim prayers are held on Fridays at 1:15pm.

A Remembrance Service is held at the Headley Court Veterans' Orthopaedic Centre each year.

A Christmas Carol Service is held shortly before Christmas.

Religious and Spiritual Books: A wide selection of books is available in the Multi Faith Room, for patients to borrow.

Under special circumstances particular services in the Multi-Faith Room can be arranged with the Lead Chaplain. Weddings, blessings and anniversary services have previously been held.

Provision for people of faiths, other than Christianity

The Chaplaincy Team will always do their best to offer spiritual support to everyone whatever their faith, tradition and belief.

If you want to be visited by a Faith Leader of a religion other than Christianity, please speak with a member of nursing staff or a chaplain and we will try and arrange that.

The holy books for most major religions are available in the hospital Multi-Faith Room.

There is a Qiblah, and a dividing curtain allows privacy for Muslim prayers.

Welsh speaking patients

Many of our patients have Welsh as their first language. Naturally, when you are ill you will want to converse in the language with which you are most familiar.

We currently have 2 members of the team who are Welsh speaking. We have prayer cards in Welsh specially designed for hospital patients. There is also a Bible in Welsh in the chapel.

Cleifion Sydd Yn Siarad Cymraeg

Cymraeg yw iaith gyntaf llawer o'n cleifion. Yn naturiol, pan fyddwch yn sâl, byddwch am sgwrsio yn yr iaith yr ydych yn fwyaf cyfarwydd â hi. Ar hyn o bryd, gennym 2 aelod o'r tîm sy'n siarad Cymraeg.

Gennym gardiau gweddi yn Gymraeg, - wedi eu dylunio'n arbennig ar gyfer cleifion ysbytai. Hefyd, mae Beibl Cymraeg ar gael yn y capel.

Help for the terminally ill and bereaved

Most hospital chaplains will have had training in dealing with the terminally ill and the bereaved and will have considerable experience in this area. One of the nursing staff will be able to send for one of us if this would be helpful.