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05 June 2002

Contents Soundings:10

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Ian McDonald Chaplain at Kirkcaldy, represents SACH on The Hospitals, Healthcare and Universities Sub-committee

SACH  Soundings
 No 10 June 2002

Page 4

Notes from the Hospitals Healthcare and Universities Sub-Committee

Laura Vermeulen, Communications Officer for National Mission attended the meeting and is keen to highlight the work and interest of chaplaincy in the National Mission newspaper. Chaplains are encouraged to share with her any news-worthy work or activity in which they are involved.

The Spirituality Guidelines have still to be issued to Trusts. It is understood that the delay may have something to do with Data Protection and chaplains' access to patient information. It's good to note that in some areas - chaplains in conjunction with their own Trusts are taking the initiative to launch study days and conferences to highlight Spiritual Care in their local NHS areas. NHS Orkney may have been the first to do so, following the Health Minister’s address at the Stirling Conference in November, when the guidelines were made public. Let's hope Chaplains everywhere will take the opportunity which these guidelines have given us to put Spiritual Care on their local Trust agenda.

Study Leave Scheme. In conversation with Angus Mathison at Ministry, John Thomson affirmed that the National Mission scheme mirrors Ministry but there are issues and disparities. One such issue is the cost of locum cover for chaplains where there is only one chaplain in post of a small team of two. The Sub-committee plan to build an element of support into the scheme for future applications from chaplainces where there is only one or two post holders.

Various reviews have taken place this spring and a number of study leave applications/reports were also dealt with. It's good for all of us when study leave reports are made available for printing in SACH Soundings - keep them coming!

At the close of the meeting it was clear that the highlight was, in fact, the opening devotions! Stewart McGregor read an extract from a dissertation by Michael Wilson: "Hospital Chaplaincy, a place of truth", 1971, reflecting on the role of the chaplain. I thought I'd end this report with an extract! "....at ease with all men and women, young and old, consultant or domestic, because at ease with ...self. Friend of all but concerned for the greatest good of each even to wounding. a peace-maker, but not through escape.."

Ian McDonald 
Chaplain at Kirkcaldy Hospitals

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Comings and Goings 

Two new Whole-time chaplains have been appointed to Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust from 13 May 2002. They are: Rev Gordon Armstrong, Minister of the United Free Church of Scotland and part-time chaplain at Southern General Hospital, Mental Health wards and Anne MacDonald, Deaconess of the Church of Scotland and part time chaplain, GGPC NHS Trust. The whole-time post at Inverclyde Royal in Greenock, vacated by Liz Crumlish, has been re-advertised with a closing date of 10 May.

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