The Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Department is here for everyone. 

We are a multi-faith team who offer spiritual and religious care to patients, staff, visitors and volunteers. You do not have to think of yourself as ‘religious’ to make use of our service.

Some people may value the opportunity to talk to someone about what is happening to them and how they feel about the changes they may be facing. For many patients, being ill and/or experiencing a trauma of some kind can turn their world upside down. It can challenge their identity – who they are, how they see themselves and their relationships.

Our aim is to enhance patient and carer experience and offer support to staff.

For a list of religious festivals during each month (and a short description), click here.

What is spiritual care?

Spiritual care doesn’t have to be religious.

Spiritual care is about valuing and respecting who people are, whatever their religion, culture, background, gender or sexuality.

The spiritual care team have no agenda or tick lists. Instead, we aim to simply be there, to support patients, relatives and staff alike through both the extraordinary and the ordinary.

Our Team

Staff Team:

  • The Rev. Martyn Jinks – Head of Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care
  • The Rev. Fr. Adrian Tomlinson – Deputy head of Pastoral Care
  • The Rev. Adrian Arnold – Sessional Chaplain 
  • Hospital Imam / Muslim Chaplain - Dr Younis Shandookh
  • The Rev. Sr. Mary Goncalves – Assistant RC Chaplain
  • Rev. Dr Judith Reece - Honarary Assistant Chaplain
  • Mrs Lyndsey Huntingdon – Secretary to The Head of Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care 

Extended Pastoral Care Team:

  • Mr Jim Noone – RC Pastoral Visitor 
  • Mrs Linda Noone – RC Pastoral Visitor 
  • Mrs Maggie Gore – Ecumenical Chaplaincy Volunteer  
  • Mr Colin Morgan – Ecumenical Chaplaincy Volunteer 
  • Mrs Tracey Winfrow – Ecumenical Chaplaincy Volunteer

We also have Specialist Faith Advisors from the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jehovah Witness & Jewish Communities. 

We offer

  • Support for you, your relatives or friends.

  • Time and space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

  • A caring, sensitive and non-judgmental ear.
  • Religious care in response to your individual needs.
  • Support for staff.

Weekly events and services in the Multi-Faith Centre 

Monday - Open for Prayer & Reflection 
Tuesday - Open for Prayer & Reflection 
Wednesday - 7.30am - Roman Catholic Mass 
Thursday - 12pm - Ecumenical Reflective Service  
Friday - 1pm - Muslim Prayers
Saturday - Open for Prayer & Reflection 
Sunday - Open for Prayer & Reflection 

 

Services of Remembering

Chaplains organise a variety of services of remembering each year to remember those who have died. These include: pregnancy loss, neonatal, paediatric and organ donation services.

The services are designed for those of all faiths and none. Family members, alongside staff from various disciplines often take part in the services. Attendance numbers strongly suggest that this is a very worthwhile service, offering people a space to remember people who have died in a sensitive and supportive way. Whether it is through the lighting of individual candles, writing messages or placing ribbons on the memory tree, these are emotional and moving occasions. Following each service there is an opportunity for people to stay for refreshments. This can be an important moment for families to meet each other and share their experiences of loss.

Mindfulness and Mediation

Staff wellbeing and support is extremely important to us in the Spiritual Care team. We are here to support staff just as much as patients, their families & friends. These are both well attended and very much valued by staff.

A place of welcome and community building

The Multi-Faith Centre is always open and our aim to create a space where people feel free to come in, whether for peace and quiet, reflection or prayer. Our aim is to make it a space where the hospital community can meet, for talks, events, music, art, food, mediation, as well as the more traditional religious services.

Contact Us

We offer a 24hr on call service for emergency call outs to patients. Please contact switchboard for the Duty On Call Chaplain.
For all other referrals please contact 07809 834826 or email martyn.jinks1@nhs.net or adrian.tomlinson1@nhs.net.