Hospital Chaplaincy Has Multi-Faith Approach

May 2, 2004

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3604775.stm

On May 2, 2004 the BBC News ran a feature article on Chris Johnson, a hospital chaplain, and the multi-faith approach of the chaplaincy. The article reported, "When Jackie Hill was forced to spend long periods of time as an in-patient at Bradford Royal Infirmary the last thing she thought she needed was spiritual counseling from a man of the cloth. Jackie, like many people, took the view that a visit from a hospital chaplain meant little more than a kind word of comfort with a Christian message...Jackie hadn't expected the thoroughly modern approach to hospital chaplaincy adopted by Reverend Chris Johnson and his multi-faith team. 'Chris was there when I needed advice,' she said. 'He helped me to structure my thoughts. He wasn't judgmental and I didn't feel pushed. He allowed me to come to my own conclusions...Chris saw me as a person and not as a patient'...As the Chaplaincy Manager of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Chris Johnson leads a team of eight chaplains that represent the Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faiths...'Together with all NHS staff we have to show respect for the religious, spiritual and cultural needs of everyone in the hospital,' [he said.] Last November the Department of Health launched guidance for NHS Trusts on chaplaincy services in response to the religious diversity of the communities that the NHS serves."