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Spiritual Care and Wellbeing

Responding to the needs of the human spirit when faced with difficulty.

About Us

Our Healthcare Chaplains are registered with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplains and work as part of the wider NHS Lanarkshire team.  They are committed to offering confidential and non-judgemental support to patients, staff, relatives, and carers.

Spirituality is about more than just belief or faith. It is about:

  • Being able to give and receive love
  • Finding hope, meaning, and purpose in life
  • Having access to appropriate support
  • Feeling valued and listened to
  • Having dignity and respect
  • Being able to express their feelings honestly
  • Exploring faith and belief

Our chaplains are trained and experienced listeners and can offer people the time and space to talk about what is on their mind. Speaking to one of our chaplains can help in finding hope, meaning, and purpose in the midst of illness or uncertainty.

Being in hospital

When people come into hospital it can be a very stressful, emotional, and unsettling time.  This can make it harder for patients and families.  Sometimes people feel worried about their future or about what they’ve been told.  At other times, people can have difficulty coping especially when they are asked to make decisions about their care.  During this time, our chaplains are on hand to listen to patients’ concerns.

Each of our hospitals has a Sanctuary space.  It’s a peaceful spot where you can rest in the midst of a busy hospital.  Everyone is welcome to visit the Sanctuary for prayer, reflection, or to find peace and quiet.

Bereavement care

The death of a loved one can be a time of great pain and sometimes people can experience shock, numbness, sadness, anger, exhaustion, confusion, and irritability. Chaplains can support people through the difficult times that can come with loss and grief.  By listening with care about a person’s loss can give space for their feelings to be heard.

Call Bereavement Care on 01698 751040

Though we weep your loss

You dwell in that safe place in our hearts

Where no storm or night of pain can reach you

~ John O’Donohue

 

Listening service

Chaplains are here for everyone. They are trained and experienced listeners who can offer the time and space to talk about what might be on someone’s mind. These conversations are confidential and non-judgemental.

Faith and belief communities

Resources such as sacred texts or literature are available for most faith and belief communities within the hospital sanctuaries.

When you’re in hospital you can contact the chaplaincy team who will arrange for resources for you on the ward.

If you would like one of the team to support you with prayer, religious rites or ceremonies, please inform the nursing team who will contact the chaplaincy service on your behalf. 

The chaplain can also make contact with your own faith or belief community whether minister, priest, imam, etc.

Contact Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care is available 24/7 throughout the year.  If you would like to speak to a chaplain, ask a member of staff to arrange this for you.  For an out of hours emergency situation, nursing staff can contact the on call chaplain via the hospital switchboard or contact us direct.

Email: spiritualcare@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
Twitter @NHSLSCW

University Hospital Hairmyres

University Hospital Monklands

University Hospital Wishaw

Call Bereavement Care on 01698 751040

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