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09 June 2002

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SACH  Soundings
 No 10 June 2002

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Journal

Since its first issue in November1998, the Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy has continued to develop in the breadth and depth of its contributions, and to increase its reputation as an important and worthwhile publication in the field of healthcare chaplaincy and beyond. It has tackled a wide range of topical issues, from advance directives to the theological considerations surrounding asylum seekers, as well as reflecting upon the meaning of spirituality and the nature of pain. The current issue (Vol 5 No 1) has generated interest far beyond the ranks of chaplains, featuring as it does a series of reports from the recent conference ‘Spirituality in Health and Community Care’. 

The Editorial Board is seeking to generate articles from as wide a cross-section as possible of those involved in health care, who are interested in the ethical, cultural, pastoral and theological implications of development in that field. We wish to hear from both practitioners and academics; from those undertaking study leave or academic study, and from those reflecting on their day to day practice. We are looking for responses to published articles, in the form of letters to the editor. We invite the poets among you to share your work with us. This is your Journal, and will become what you make it. So take courage and contribute.

David Mitchell  
journal@sach.org.uk 

Georgina Nelson hospitalchaplain@wlt.scot.nhs.uk

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Jim Allardyce is Chaplain at Wishaw General Hospital

Welcome to Wishaw

The Church, Wishaw General Hospital

It is now almost a year since we moved from Law Hospital to Wishaw General and things are starting to settle down. There were the expected upsets amongst the staff when new working practices were introduced, but it seems that these teething troubles are in the past. 

As far as chaplaincy goes, it has been quite a hectic time. Wishaw General is in fact an amalgamation of hospitals, mainly Law and Bellshill Maternity. The chaplaincy team from Law Hospital, Revs David Young, David Collins, Graeme McKay and Jim Allardyce along with Father Charlie O'Farrell and Sister Margaret Forde, formed the new team at WGH along with the chaplain from Bellshill, Rev Sharon Colvin. Deciding who was to do what was the biggest headache. At Law Hospital the Protestant chaplains had responsibility for a block each, four blocks, four chaplains. One other chaplain acted as secretary. Here at WGH we had everything under one roof, though along several corridors! Things were sorted out to everyone's satisfaction and all went well until Graeme resigned to take up a charge in Toowoomba, Australia. We were fortunate that Rev Jim Hastie had some time to offer to us and he is now helping out. We hope that this is a temporary state of affairs as we have been pressing for a whole time post to be set up. 

For the chaplaincy centre itself we could not have been better treated. The church has been described as ‘A beautiful place.’ ‘Such a restful place, the colour is so peaceful’. and ‘So peaceful, a joy to just sit in’. And it is all of these and more. We have been showered with gifts. The Gideons International presented us with a complete set of Pew Bibles as well as a presentation Bible for the chaplains. The Hospital Art Strategy Group commissioned a Lectern Fall and Table Runner to compliment the stained glass window which was brought from the church in Law Hospital. The Hospital Endowment Fund bought us a Digital Piano, so we don't have to worry whether we have an organist or not. We hold Services on Sundays, Protestant in the morning, Catholic in the afternoon. Soon we hope to go ‘On the Air’ with Radio Law and broadcast the services to those who cannot get to the church. 

We also have a Quiet Room as part of the chaplaincy centre. This is available for all to use at any time, and it is used. SANDS have their meetings there on one Monday evening per month and there have been other users. But the big attraction is the church. It is not unusual for any of us to go into the church and find someone sitting in one of the seats, perhaps reading a Bible or just admiring the window. The church is situated almost on the main crossroads of the hospital and is so easy to access that many people who might otherwise just have walked by come in to see it. Perhaps this is the way we are to minister to the people in WGH, just by being there.

Jim Allardyce 
Chaplain, Wishaw General Hospital

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