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Handbook
on Hospital Chaplaincy
Below
is an extract from the "Handbook on Hospital Chaplaincy published
in 1987
It
is never easy to set out in general terms the duties and responsibilities
of chaplains, as every chaplain, whether whole-time or part-time,
must work out priorities according to experience and the time available
but listed below are some of the principal duties:
- to
make provision for the spiritual needs of patients, staff, and
medical students within the hospital, particularly for those people
who are unable to remain in contact with their normal place of
worship. A chaplain is the pastor of all patients and staff of
his own denomination and has a concern for those of other Churches
though they are principally the responsibility of the chaplain
of their own Church tradition.
- to
conduct services of public worship regularly in the chapel and/or
other suitable place for worship, and to administer the sacraments.
Times of service should be arranged by the chaplains of the hospital
in consultation with administration so that the most suitable
times can be arrange to enable both staff and patients to attend.
- To
visit patients and staff in the wards and departments regularly,
and when requested to give special ministrations to the seriously
ill or dying. According to his denomination, a chaplain should
have experience in hearing confessions and in the ministry of
healing such as the laying on of hands and holy unction. The full
co-operation of medical consultants and nursing staff should be
sought before such services take place on the wards or in private
rooms.
- To
meet and welcome new members of staff as soon as possible and
to be readily available where opportunity arises to co-operate
in the training of students and the induction courses.
- To
co-operate with medical, nursing and administrative staff wherever
possible in departmental meetings as and when attendance is considered
necessary. Many hospitals now have multi- or inter-disciplinary
meetings, professional executive and/or heads of department meetings.
Chaplains should readily accept invitations to attend when invited
to do so.
- To
be available wherever possible to relatives of patients, particularly
those bereaved.
- To
be available to parish priests and ministers in order to consult
with them on the pastoral care of their people when in hospital,
and to receive information from those priests and ministers, always
remembering rules of confidentiality.
- To
make public (preferably by leaflet) information about times of
hospital religious services and other such facilities for patients
and staff.
- To
keep records of all services and, when asked, to write reports
for the District Health Authority (or Chaplains' Advisory Committee)
where such committees exist).
- In
co-operation with other staff responsibility, to ensure that chapels,
places of worship and mortuary waiting and viewing rooms are suitably
furnished.
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