Hospital chaplaincy gets positive review
CHAPLAINCY services at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital have seen significant improvements made over the past four years.
Following on from his last visit in 2017, College of Health Care Chaplains president Simon Harrison visited the hospital again this week to conduct a review of its chaplaincy services and offer support and training to staff. Objectives were initially outlined to make the service more visible and for Health & Social Care to take on ownership of the service, which he said had been met.
‘It feels like there is a lot more confidence now,’ Dr Harrison said.
‘HSC have owned responsibility for pastoral and spiritual care and it’s evident in a number of ways in the management and engagement.
‘The level of awareness for chaplaincy has gone up and it’s so evident. People know who you are now as you walk down the corridor.’
Priorities were also outlined to establish an inclusive chaplaincy policy and a mix of professionally trained chaplains to work alongside volunteers.
‘They’re moving towards a modern chaplaincy, but it is a gradual journey. A broader and professional approach has been taken and they have incorporated a broader understanding of human needs.
‘It’s important for all patients that there is a clear chaplaincy strategy – and many for whom it could be helpful don’t know what chaplains do.
‘The bottom line is, it’s for if you’re having a tough time. It’s not about religion.
‘Given how challenging these last few years have been, it has brought into sharp focus how hard being in hospital can actually be. The chaplains feel privileged to have been able to maintain input despite Covid,’ said Dr Harrison.
PEH lead chaplain the Rev. Linda Le Vasseur said the visit meant a great deal to the hospital and its chaplaincy staff.
‘He has enormous experience. He’s just completed a training session for the team and they all came out saying they felt empowered.
‘We’re cut off in Guernsey and we can’t access chaplaincy conferences and things like that. It makes us feel connected.’
Mrs Le Vasseur highlighted the importance of the service during the pandemic.
‘When the hospital was closed there was a lot of importance around supporting patients.
‘We were the only people outside of the clinical team that they saw. I can remember someone calling up and asking about her mum to see if she was happy that day.
‘We’re also there for the staff – it wasn’t unusual for me to see staff crying in the chapel.
‘We’re there for everybody. Sometimes people might think it’s for religious people, but we’re there to support everyone,’ said Mrs Le Vasseur.
