After seeing your recent article on December 4 about discrimination against non-religious patients and families, I would like to forward a reply. As chaplaincyspiritual care team manager I was very disappointed to read this article and feel it does not do justice to the hard work we do here at St George’s Hospital.

We pride ourselves on the support we provide for the public from all faiths and backgrounds.

Our team includes Christian Muslim and Jewish chaplains, as well as a range of volunteers from other faith traditions, including Buddhist and Hindu.

However, our support does not stop at those who follow a faith, we also help many people who do not follow a religion – patients and families who may simply need someone to help them in their hardest of times.

This support includes spiritual care which values and respects everyone – whatever their religion, belief, culture, background, gender or sexuality.

Spiritual care recognises that not everyone has an agenda or a tick list, but instead focuses on being there for people in the ordinary and in the extraordinary – noticing both the spoken and the unspoken.

We hope this response highlights the work and dedicated support we offer for all the local community and will help reassure every one of the high standards we aim for at St George’s Hospital.

REV HILARY CANON JOHNSON
Chaplaincy team manager

 

 


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