Secular attack on NHS chaplaincy ‘simplistic’,
says Unite
8th April 2009
An attack by the National Secular Society (NSS) on the NHS
chaplaincy service has been described as ‘erroneous and simplistic’
by Unite, the largest union in the country.
Unite, which embraces The College of Health Care Chaplains,
called for more independent research and study, instead of the NSS’
‘sweeping generalisations’ and calls for the end to funding.
This follows the NSS’ demand today (Wednesday, 8 April) that
religious groups fund their own presence in hospitals, thus saving
an alleged £40 million per year.
Unite outlined three ways that the chaplains ‘add value’ to the
NHS:
- Having chaplains in hospitals means fully-stretched nurses,
particularly at night, don’t have to balance the needs of bereaved
families, when other patients need urgent care. Nurses know they
can rely on the availability of a professional chaplain.
- If a patient dies and has no relatives, the NHS conducts the
funeral (contract) services and having an NHS chaplain doing this
means that the £100 legal fee for the service is not paid to an
outside cleric – thus saving the NHS money. With the recession
biting hard, there are an increasing number of contract funerals,
as relatives can’t afford the funeral arrangements.
- Having a chaplain ‘embedded’ and ‘on call’ in the
hospital ensures the highest professional standards when dealing
with baby and child deaths, and for liaising with fellow healthcare
professionals, as the NHS chaplain has more experience of the
trauma that these deaths evoke in a hospital, than a faith leader
coming in from the outside.
Unite also said that the NSS report seems to concentrate its
fire on the Church of England, while the College of Health Care
Chaplains has members from all the major faith groups.
Revd Dr Chris Swift, a former president of Unite/The
College of Health Care Chaplains, said: "The NSS report is based on
erroneous and simplistic assumptions that do not delve into the
real work that chaplains from all faiths carry out in the NHS on
daily basis in often emotionally fraught situations.
"Over and over again, our members receive feedback from
relatives and friends on how useful and comforting it was to have a
NHS chaplain on hand.
"I would like to see more independent research and objective
study into the value of NHS chaplaincy. This research would
demonstrate that chaplains are worth more than the notional £40
million quoted by the NSS.
"The value of the chaplaincy service has been repeatedly
recognised by the Department of Health."
ENDS
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
For further information, please ring: Revd Dr Chris
Swift (Researcher in Leeds) on 07866 563 640 or Shaun Noble,
communications officer, 020 7780 4080
Email to a friend
