15. A loss of faith
Resolution submitted by the RCN East Dorset Branch
That this meeting of RCN Congress condemns the drastic cuts to hospital chaplaincy services by NHS trusts
Report on this debate
Members voted strongly in favour of agreement to condemn cuts in hospital chaplaincy service yesterday. BJ Waltho said that they should not be seen as a soft option for cash saving.
The value that chaplains bring to hospitals was recognised, not just for patients, families and carers, but for staff as well. Many spoke of chaplains being there for them during times of stress. Chaplains have the time to listen, time that nurses often do not have. They visit the sick, support relatives and carers, give advice on ethical dilemmas.
Andy McGovern said that spiritual health is very important and chaplains help by giving solace and support as well as ways to cope – it is vital to patients and staff.
Bonnie Mitchell spoke from personal experience and said that whilst the services of a chaplain did not cure her illness, the strength it gave her made her feel so much better. This is just as important as the work of nurses and doctors for many people.
BJ Waltho concluded by saying nurses need to show that chaplaincy services have not been lost from the nurses’ agenda.
| For | 403 |
97.11% |
|---|---|---|
| Against | 12 |
2.89% |
| Abstain | 13 |
| For | 72 |
86.7% |
|---|---|---|
| Against | 11 |
13.3% |
Background
In 2003 the Department of Health produced guidance relating to meeting the religious and spiritual needs of patients and staff (Department of Health, 2003). However, governments across the UK do not routinely collect data on chaplaincy provision in NHS trusts.
In October 2007, Theos ― a public theology think tank ― published a report of its survey on NHS chaplaincy provision in England (Theos, 2007). The findings, taken from the responses of 198 acute and mental health trusts, revealed there were 1,128 paid chaplains, 328 full-time chaplains and 800 part-time chaplains (providing in the region of 890,162 chaplaincies a year). Just less than one quarter (23.7 per cent) of respondents reported a reduction in the availability of chaplaincy sessions, with only one trust reporting an increase. As a result, researchers reported around 46,755 hours of spiritual care each year have been lost. According to Theos, the highest recorded loss to an individual trust in England was at Epsom and St. Helier, where around 77 hours per week have been lost ― representing more than 50 per cent of the trust’s health care chaplaincy. A further eight NHS trusts listed posts as ‘frozen’, with a reasonable expectation of return. The research suggests around 54,127 hours of health care chaplaincy have been taken out of use in the last two years, either as a consequence of funding cuts or through the freezing of posts; 23 per cent of responding trusts reported a cut in budget, while 22.7 per cent reported an increase.
There is a move across Wales to restructure part-time chaplaincy positions into full-time positions. The Welsh Assembly Government has given a commitment to increase investment in this area, and in spring 2008 will issue new statutory guidance on the provision of hospital chaplaincy services to NHS trusts in Wales. In Northern Ireland, there are no plans to curtail chaplaincy services. Indeed, information made available to RCN Northern Ireland indicates that plans are in hand to enhance and expand chaplaincy services in the future. Since 2002, Scottish health boards have been directed to produce and implement a spiritual care policy, tailored to suit the needs of local communities and following Scottish Government guidance. Chaplains are directly employed by NHS boards and resources have been made available to support the training and development of chaplains.
Evidence suggests a mixed picture across the UK, with the greatest impact in chaplaincy reductions being felt in England. The RCN will continue to monitor and evaluate the position across the UK.
References and further reading
Department of Health (2003) NHS chaplaincy: meeting the religious and spiritual needs of patients and staff: guidance for managers and those involved in the provision of chaplaincy-spiritual care, London: DH. Available from: www.dh.gov.uk
South Yorkshire NHS Workforce Development Confederation (2003) Caring for the spirit: a strategy for the chaplaincy and spiritual healthcare workforce, Leeds: South Yorkshire NHS WDC. Available from: www.yorksandhumber.nhs.uk
Theos (2007) NHS chaplaincy provision in England: interim findings, London: Theos.
Available on request from hello@theosthinktank.co.uk