Article Index
Chaplaincy
The chaplaincy Team
The Sanctuary
Services and Meetings
How to contact a Chaplain
All Pages

Statement of Purpose

The chaplaincy service at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals provides spiritual and pastoral care to patients, their families and friends and staff within an overall approach to care, based on holistic and ethical principles.

The chaplaincy is a multi-faith service which aims to meet personal and communal needs for worship and religious expression. In addition to providing an environment and facilities for prayer and worship, the chaplaincy supports people in maintaining and developing a personal spiritual discipline appropriate to their own religious tradition. The chaplaincy aims to respond to all pastoral and spiritual needs within the Trust.

The Trust's Spiritual and Pastoral Care Service aims to have a chaplain available in times of crisis and need - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is available for patients, their families and friends and Trust staff.

The Chaplaincy Team

'Our goal is to support patients and their loved ones in any way that we can.'

The Chaplaincy Team (ecumenical) consists of Chaplains drawn from a variety of Christian denominations. They are professional staff, available on site during working hours, Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, and through an on-call system at other times.

The three full time Chaplains are supported by a team of part-time Chaplains from local communities who are trained to support aspects of the chaplaincy service including visiting wards. The chaplaincy service is part of a network of faith communities supporting local people.

The Chaplaincy Team offers a listening ear in difficult times, conversation, counsel, sacramental care, and someone to pray or read scripture with patients, relatives or staff. They are always willing to make pastoral visits to patients, especially before and after surgery.

The team also includes a number of Pastoral Care Volunteers who play a valuable role in supporting the work of the department.

All members of the Chaplaincy Team subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the College of Healthcare Chaplains.

We respect ALL individuals regardless of race, colour, sexuality, religion or world view.

All members of the chaplaincy service take pride in their ability to respond positively to the needs of users and to communicate sensitively with both users and colleagues.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary offers a place of peace and quiet for prayer and reflection, 'a sacred place where we are free from the pursuit of others, a place to remember and recollect who we are in the midst of our busy lives'.

The Sanctuary is open at all times and all faith groups are welcome to make use of this facility.

The Sanctuary is located to the left of the main reception at Basildon University Hospital, just off the main corridor and before The Restaurant and Coffee Lounge.

Within the concealed cupboards along the left hand side of the room, there are various materials and facilities available to patients, relatives and staff including:

• Ablution facilities
• Prayer mats
• Rosaries
• Bibles
• Qur'an

Other assorted faith texts are available from the Chaplaincy Office.

Services and Meetings

Christian Prayers are held in the Sanctuary on Tuesdays and commence at 12noon till 12:30pm. The Sanctuary is exclusively available for Christian Prayers during this time.

Jumu'ah is held every Friday between 12:30pm and 2pm. The Sanctuary is exclusively available for Muslim Prayers during this time.

There is a 30 minute service of Christian Worship in the Sanctuary every Sunday from 2pm to 2.30pm which concludes with Holy Communion. All patients and staff are especially welcome to attend this Ecumenical service.

Communion: If patients are unable to attend the Sunday service, but wish to have Communion, the Chaplains are willing to bring bedside Communion to the patient.

N.B Bedside Communion is available every day

How to contact a Chaplain

Urgent:

When there is an urgent need to see a Chaplain, i.e. a patient is dying and either the patient or their family wishes prayers to be said, ask a member of staff to call the on-call chaplain. We promise to be with you within the hour, night or day, 365 days a year.

Routine:

Ask the nurse to call ext 3503. Leave your Name, Ward, and Patient's Faith Background (if any). We will seek to find an appropriate Chaplain who can visit within 48hrs max. (Usually less than 24hrs)

Email Referral:

You can also email the Chaplaincy with a referral: chaplaincy.referral@btuh.nhs.uk