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SACH
News Sheet No 8
December 2001
Scratchings from
the TDO
Someone actually called me that the other day: “So you’re the new TDO.” I had to think about it before saying “Yes, I suppose I am.”
Things are busy in the office getting systems up and running, flat pack furniture knocked together, fax machine and computer partially sussed, plenty of people to see, meetings to attend and things to do. Already the mileometer on the car is rising, the train timetables are becoming familiar and I have enjoyed my first flight by EasyJet.
Of more significance has been the appointment of a full-time secretary in the office, her name is Roey Knowles and she will be happy to hear from you. Roey has been a chaplaincy volunteer both in Birmingham and in Glasgow and so knows something of the vagaries of chaplains and chaplaincy.
We have begun planning next year’s in-service courses of which details will appear in Training Matters and on the website. Fred Coutts has been retained as the consultant for the site - I hesitate for some reason to call him “webmaster!”
The recent conference at Stirling, which was planned and funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department, was a significant gathering and showed a level of commitment from the NHS in Scotland towards recognising the need for spiritual care in the Health Service.
I was asked if I minded having the description “Spiritual Care Advisor” added to my job title as the new task about to be given to Trusts and Boards will require a small resource team to aid in the drawing up the new spiritual care policies. TDO and SCA why worry? After all a rose is still a rose……
Chris Levison
Chaplaincy Training and Development Officer
Queens Park House
Victoria Infirmary
Langside Road
GLASGOW
G42 9TT
Telephone: 0141 201 5392
Fax: 0141 201 5614
Mobile: 07768 023385
E-mail:
chris.levison@chaplains.co.uk
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Contents
of News Sheet 8
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Orkney
News
The Chaplains at the Balfour Hospital, Orkney are organising an afternoon conference in Kirkwall for faith representatives, clergy and Orkney Health Board members on the afternoon of 5th February. The theme of the conference is "Spirituality in the NHS: an Orkney perspective for Chaplaincy and Churches". As the title suggests, part of the afternoon will be spent reporting back on the Stirling conference attended by Mike Ward, with Christine Laird (Assistant Chaplain) giving a talk on "Visiting Patients: A Code of Good Practice". Hospital Manager Rhoda Walker and new Orkney Health Board chairperson Jenny Dewar will also give brief presentations.
Mike Ward is to begin the two-year part-time MA in Healthcare Chaplaincy at Leeds, starting in February, using his Church of Scotland study leave allocation. He hopes to give reports to other SACH chaplains through the Journal or News Sheet, to allow other chaplains to hear one "consumer's comment" on the course.
Orkney Crossword
With encouragement from NHS Orkney PR officer, Fiona Holgate, and the willing help of the hospital's Support Services staff, the Balfour Hospital Chaplaincy Team in Orkney has produced a quarterly magazine, Crossword, with brief articles of interest to local NHS staff and church members. The November issue, the fourth produced to date, includes a typically humorous piece by retiring Cathedral minister Ron Ferguson reflecting on his experiences as a hospital visitor.
The newsletter has a circulation of around 200, and anyone wanting to receive a copy can contact the Chaplaincy, Balfour Hospital, Orkney or E-mail Mike Ward at
revmw@lineone.net
Mike Ward
Chaplain, Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall
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