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Post by housesparrow on Apr 8, 2009 10:43:08 GMT
The National Secular Society says the chaplain service is a waste of NHS resources, which would be better spent on healthcare. Do you agree? BBC news item |
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Post by bonbonlarue on Apr 8, 2009 11:02:00 GMT
Anyone who wants a God botherer usually has their own...the Church is rich enough to fund it themselves.
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Post by Patrick on Apr 8, 2009 11:42:15 GMT
Could they not "Adopt-a-Priest?" Invite Vicars from nearby churches to provide a service for a local hospital if needed? Get one for each faith and you should have it well covered? After all, with falling congregations I bet some of them aren't that busy?  |
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Post by Flatypus on Apr 8, 2009 12:46:51 GMT
What chaplain? There are five major Christian divisions which each refuse to recognise each other and thousands of Protestant sub-divisions (the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren won't even talk to the not-so-exclusive Plymouth Brethren) even before you start to add assorted Jews who don't all recognise each other, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and a few neo-pagan Wiccans. Can't the hospital keep a list of Priests, Rabbis, Imams,High Priestesses, Shamans and Witchdoctors on call if necessary?
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Post by Coffeepot on Apr 8, 2009 12:51:20 GMT
The hospice I work in is only small, the local vicars / priest pop in regularly, and are always happy to come and see someone who requests a visit.
They certainly give people a lot of comfort, but I suppose in a large hospital it would be more complicated to arrange. Be interesting to know how busy hospital chaplains are kept, wouldn't it?
The new 'super' hospital in Derby doesn't have a chapel at all.
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Post by everso on Apr 8, 2009 13:24:04 GMT
The hospice I work in is only small, the local vicars / priest pop in regularly, and are always happy to come and see someone who requests a visit. They certainly give people a lot of comfort, but I suppose in a large hospital it would be more complicated to arrange. Be interesting to know how busy hospital chaplains are kept, wouldn't it? The new 'super' hospital in Derby doesn't have a chapel at all. This is the key word. I'm not a believer, but some people are and the comfort they get from a visit from a priest is invaluable. I think hospitals should provide a place of worship (chapel, whatever) and, as Piffle suggests, a handy list for those in need. A resident chaplain surely isn't needed? Presumably if a patient is jewish, muslim, hindu, they'd have to request a visit from their religious representative. |
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Post by bonbonlarue on Apr 8, 2009 14:46:32 GMT
I wouldn't like to end my days looking a mess...do you think the NHS could provide beauticians too?
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Post by everso on Apr 8, 2009 15:12:53 GMT
I wouldn't like to end my days looking a mess...do you think the NHS could provide beauticians too? Actually, I think it should be the law. |
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Post by motorist on Apr 8, 2009 15:26:50 GMT
Eating yummy cakes and chocolate should be compulsory too  |
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Apr 8, 2009 17:55:13 GMT
Eating yummy cakes and chocolate should be compulsory too And pop & crisps. A good selection of sci-fi/fantasy novels should be provided for every patient as well. AH |
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Post by housesparrow on Apr 8, 2009 18:07:56 GMT
People in hospital may not have a religious representative, so would hesitate before calling one. They might however take advantage of the service offered by the chaplain in the hospital.
My friend spent about even weeks in hospital last year and we popped into a Sunday evening hospital chapel service before he left. Neither of us are churchgoers but I found the service deeply moving. The chapel was quite simple and so far as I can remember it was probably suitable for use by other religions.
So I'd hate to lose the chaplaincy service, and though I agree it would be better to fund it through voluntary donations, I fear we might lose it altogether. So I'm going to opt for the NHS to keep it, for the time being at least.
Shame on Derby, not having some little room in their new hospital where people could go to pray to whatever power they choose.
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Apr 8, 2009 18:13:14 GMT
People in hospital may not have a religious representative, so would hesitate before calling one. They might however take advantage of the service offered by the chaplain in the hospital. A very fair and valid point, Housey.  AH |
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Post by everso on Apr 8, 2009 18:36:19 GMT
Housey is on her way to persuading me.
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Post by motorist on Apr 8, 2009 19:14:22 GMT
Eating yummy cakes and chocolate should be compulsory too And pop & crisps. A good selection of sci-fi/fantasy novels should be provided for every patient as well. AH Maybe some chick novels for birds like everso and that Sausage rolls! Mustn't forget sausage rolls *slurp* |
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Post by Patrick on Apr 8, 2009 19:29:38 GMT
And pop & crisps. A good selection of sci-fi/fantasy novels should be provided for every patient as well. AH Maybe some chick novels for birds like everso and that Sausage rolls! Mustn't forget sausage rolls *slurp* Custard. |
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Post by percyplum on Apr 8, 2009 19:46:40 GMT
Hospital chaplains are specially trained in different forms of councelling, not just as spiritual advisers.
They are happy to give comfort to anyone, regardless of faith, or indeed, non-faith. I think that is very important.
Emotional or spiritual (call it what you will) well-being is as important as medical care in many cases. Not just for the patient either.
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Post by trubble on Apr 8, 2009 20:18:36 GMT
You mean the family and friends too? Or are you thinking of the staff? I don't know how to vote but it strikes me that a chaplain service must be useful to staff.
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Post by housesparrow on Apr 9, 2009 7:15:09 GMT
Hospital chaplains are specially trained in different forms of councelling, not just as spiritual advisers. They are happy to give comfort to anyone, regardless of faith, or indeed, non-faith. I think that is very important. Emotional or spiritual (call it what you will) well-being is as important as medical care in many cases. Not just for the patient either. My organisation once employed a chaplain, and it coincided with my father's dredful stroke, when I was consumed the horror of the speechless, movementless life that stretched out before him, and also riddled with guilt. I'd seen a "professional" counsellor who was just dreadful; she just seemed to reinforce my own beliefs about myself. The chaplain came by and I told him how dreadful I'd been feeling and why I felt things might have been different if I'd done such-and-such and he just said "You know you can't blame yourself, don't you?" or something similar. And of course I did. I just needed someone to confirm it, and I don't think that any counsellor would have dared say that. |
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Post by bonbonlarue on Apr 9, 2009 8:11:26 GMT
Not the NHS, not voluntary contributions. The Church should pay.
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Post by housesparrow on Apr 9, 2009 9:31:07 GMT
Bonbon, why on earth NOT voluntary contributions? A relation of a patient might well want to give money for the chaplaincy service specifically without pouring money into the coffers of the C of E!
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