HOSPITAL MINISTRY AS EVANGELISATION

‘Illness is part of our human condition. Yet, if illness is experienced in isolation and abandonment, unaccompanied by care and compassion, it can become inhumane’. Pope Francis

Hospital Ministry is central to the mission of the Church in respect to evangelisation as it involves proclaiming the value and dignity of every person; to be a reminder of the spiritual dimension of illness and, sadly, of dying; to provide a reminder of the healing, sustaining, guiding and reconciling gift of faith; to endeavour to see that the spiritual needs of people are met and respected; and to provide supportive care through empathetic listening, demonstrating an understanding of those in distress.

To do this requires giving pastoral support which is sensitive and compassionate. Our being with people may entail offering prayer and administering the Sacrament of the Sick. There can be many instances where it is people who do not frequently attend church who request the support of a priest.  

As Pope Francis says “People who are sick hold a privileged place in the Church and the priestly heart of all the faithful. They are not to be cast aside. On the contrary, they are to be cared for, to be looked after. They are the objects of Christian concern”.

HOSPITAL MINISTRY

In relation to Evangelisation Archbishop Nolan ensures support is available to those who are in hospitals. This support is for patients, families and staff. There are priests, a deacon and lay people involved in providing this ministry.

In accordance with confidentiality-rights (GDPR) the priest is not routinely notified when a person is admitted unless a specific request is made by the patient or a member of their family. This is due to a person’s right to privacy which is a human right.

PASTORAL CARE

When a person has been given a date for admission to hospital, and wishes the sacrament of the sick, it is helpful if they could contact their parish-priest for this to be administered before admission. There is usually only a short time between admission and surgery.

If a person is admitted as an emergency or unexpectedly, they may wish the sacrament of the sick. Each hospital has a system for contacting the priest in emergencies.

The request has to be made to a nurse or to the ward secretary by the patient or a family-member asking that the priest be called then he will be paged. When the priest receives the call, and it is urgent, he will immediately attend.

If it is not deemed urgent, the priest will see the patient before the end of his time on call. After the patient has been seen he will email their name and ward to me.

This ministry of evangelisation not only applies to the Accident and Emergency hospitals as every hospital has a priest on call usually from one of the local parishes.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Royal Infirmary, Children’s Hospital, Gartnavel General, Gartnavel Royal, Leverndale, and the West of Scotland Cancer Centre all have teams of extraordinary ministers. The volunteers all have a PVG and have undertaken Safeguarding Level 2 training. This ensures that patients are seen regularly which is key to effective evangelisation.

INFORMATION

A number of parishes in the archdiocese have information on their websites or in their bulletins informing people of this process.

Below is a Declaration people can cut out and keep for the day when they may be admitted to hospital. 

PATIENT’S RELIGIOUS DECLARATION

I am a Roman Catholic.

While a patient in hospital, I wish to exercise my Human Right, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 9~1), of practising my religion. 

I request that the Roman Catholic Chaplain be informed of my admission to hospital, and that I receive a visit from the Roman Catholic Chaplain.

I give explicit consent for this information to be made available to the Roman Catholic Chaplain and I would request that this document form part of my personal case notes.

Signed:

(insert name)

EVANGELISATION

Archbishop Nolan has highlighted that all of us have been commissioned to go out and spread the Good News. Evangelisation in hospitals is put into action through our bringing Jesus to the patients, families and staff.

Deacon Michael O’Donnell