Chairman's Page

New Chairman for HCC and lead Bishop for the NHS

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have appointed the Bishop of Gloucester, The Right Reverend Michael Perham to be also Chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council and lead Bishop for matters concerning the National Health Service, in succession to the Bishop of St Albans. Bishop Michael will also be a Vice Chairman of the Mission and Public Affairs Council. He took up these additional responsibilities in January 2007.

Hospital chaplains have been part of the NHS since its inception and are at the cutting edge of the ministry to and care for the sick, their relatives and the 1.3 million staff who work within the NHS. Their work was celebrated and affirmed in a General Synod debate in February 2006.

The Bishop of Gloucester said:- 'I welcome this appointment and look forward to supporting chaplains in the vital ministry they offer day by day. This is a critical time for the NHS and for chaplaincy as we seek to preserve the holistic care to which the health service is committed.'

Responding to the announcement the CEO of HCC said, 'It is a great joy to have a new Chairman in succession to Bishop Christopher of St Alban's. Bishop Michael brings pastoral skill and wisdom to this additional work and the HCC team look forward to working with and for him.'

Bishop of Gloucester's visit to
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
24 October 2007

The Chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council visited Royal Worcester Hospital on Wednesday 24th October. Bishop Michael was welcomed by the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Trust. He met some of the Chaplains employed at the Trust as well as a number of chaplaincy volunteers and others who support the work and witness of the chaplains.

The Bishop of Gloucester (Chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council), Mr. John Rostill, (the Chief Executive of the Royal Worcester NHS Trust), the Revd. Judith Thompson, (Chaplain at the Worcester Hospital) and Father Edward Lewis (former Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council).

The Bishop of Gloucester (Chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council) talks to Chaplaincy Volunteers in the Chapel at the Worcester Hospital. The Chaplain, the Revd. Judith Thompson looks on.

The Bishop of Gloucester (Chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council) with the Revd. Max Shepherd, Lead chaplain at the Trust,the Chairs of the Leagues of Friends of the three hospitals and the Revd. Edward Lewis (former Chief Executive of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council).

Worcester News - Thursday 25 October 2007 - by Lucy Tatchell

The Bishop of Gloucester and chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council, the Right Rev Michael Perham visited Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Wednesday 24 October 2007 to address chaplaincy volunteers.

Prior to the meeting, the bishop had met with the chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, John Rostill, to discuss the future of the service. "My conversations before I came here suggested the service might be OK," said the bishop. "I felt it was a good conversation with the chief executive, and what I want to do now is stop Worcester being used as a by-word for cuts." Mr Rostill confirmed the talks had been a success, saying: "We have had a very useful discussion and I would say the future of the chaplaincy in Worcestershire is secured. We had to make certain savings, and I am pleased to say we have done that now."

The services were threatened in August 2006 when the trust planned to axe two Anglican, one Free Church and three Roman Catholic priests to make savings. Funding from the league of friends meant the service could continue in the short-term as they agreed to underwrite the costs of providing pastoral support for patients and staff for two years. The team of two full-time and four part-time chaplains is supported by chaplaincy volunteers, who together bring spiritual, religious and pastoral solace to sick and dying patients. Despite confirmation the services are safe, one chaplaincy volunteer expressed concern over having one full-time clergy on site. Cathy Jones, co-ordinator of chaplaincy volunteers, said: "There are some things volunteers cannot do, if a young motorcyclist is knocked off his bike at 2am and wishes to see someone the chaplain is called. They are on call 24-hours a day, and volunteers are not. It is a lot of work for one person to do."

Links to:

• Bishop of Gloucester - website

Updated 7 November 2007