Visiting Guidance for Faith Leaders
Information and Guidance on Visiting Hospitals for Faith & Belief Community Leaders
The Department of Spiritual Care team is available to provide pastoral, spiritual, and religious care to everyone across the hospital community. However, it recognises and values the role of Faith and Belief Community Leaders (FBCLs) in meeting the spiritual, religious and pastoral needs of members of their community, and affirms the unique pastoral relationships which are often established over many years by FBCLs who may be the best placed person to offer the spiritual, religious or pastoral care.
Liaison with the Department of Spiritual Care
We are happy to take referrals from FBCLs and to provide assistance in the ongoing support of the members of your congregation or community, but we will not normally contact you to pass on information about people we have cared for unless this is expressly requested by the patient. When a patient requests that we do not make contact, this is always respected.
If there are any difficulties or concerns with any aspect of the hospital visiting please don’t hesitate to contact the Department of Spiritual Care (see useful contacts).
If there are any difficulties or concerns with any aspect of the hospital visiting please don’t hesitate to contact the Department of Spiritual Care (see useful contacts).
Information Governance (confidentiality and consent)
A person’s admission into hospital is governed by Data Protection. Hospital staff (clinical and non-clinical) will not release this information to any member of the public; which includes visiting ministers or faith/belief leaders without patient consent. Consequently, NHS Healthcare Chaplains are unable to confirm if a person is in hospital, or share information about them, without first ensuring they have consented.
If you are asked to visit a member of your congregation or community, check with them or one of their close contacts to ascertain their whereabouts within the hospital. Many patients bring a mobile phone into the hospital, and it could be helpful to speak directly with them in order to plan the best timing of your visit.
Ministers & FCBLs must not access patient notes to document their visit. If this is required, contact can be made with a NHS Healthcare Chaplain, and a handover be provided by them.
If you are asked to visit a member of your congregation or community, check with them or one of their close contacts to ascertain their whereabouts within the hospital. Many patients bring a mobile phone into the hospital, and it could be helpful to speak directly with them in order to plan the best timing of your visit.
Ministers & FCBLs must not access patient notes to document their visit. If this is required, contact can be made with a NHS Healthcare Chaplain, and a handover be provided by them.
Identification
Safety and security within the hospital is a high priority so it is good practice to identify yourself to hospital/ward staff as a visiting minister or faith/belief community leader.
Ward Liaison & Infection Control
It is essential that all visitors to hospitals adhere to infection control procedures. Please ensure that you liaise with ward staff prior to arriving and entering a ward, to establish their infection control measures, including any Personal Protection Equipment you may need to be issued with. As FBCLs you may only support individual patients in the hospital if it is safe to do so and standard infection control measures are observed at every stage. It is also advisable to make it clear to nursing staff if you intend supporting more than one patient, whilst in the hospital.
If your visit involves administering a sacrament, then it is essential to check with the ward staff that the procedure can be followed without risk of cross-infection or creating additional hazards. You must follow instructions given by nursing staff.
Ministers or faith/belief community leaders are not classed as a ‘Designated Visitor’ under the NHS Tayside Visiting Protocol, and as a result do not need to ‘book’ a time with ward staff (see ‘Expansion of NHS Visiting Guidance and universal COVID testing’). However, prior to visiting it is advisable to make contact with the ward to ensure the patient is free for a visit, or to arrange a suitable time.
Upon arrival at the ward, always introduce yourself to nursing staff and check that your patient is ready for a visit. Similarly, when you leave, it is helpful for ward staff to know that you have gone.
If your visit involves administering a sacrament, then it is essential to check with the ward staff that the procedure can be followed without risk of cross-infection or creating additional hazards. You must follow instructions given by nursing staff.
Ministers or faith/belief community leaders are not classed as a ‘Designated Visitor’ under the NHS Tayside Visiting Protocol, and as a result do not need to ‘book’ a time with ward staff (see ‘Expansion of NHS Visiting Guidance and universal COVID testing’). However, prior to visiting it is advisable to make contact with the ward to ensure the patient is free for a visit, or to arrange a suitable time.
Upon arrival at the ward, always introduce yourself to nursing staff and check that your patient is ready for a visit. Similarly, when you leave, it is helpful for ward staff to know that you have gone.
Hospital Visiting Checklist
Contact & consent with patient or family
Liaised with ward staff
Infection Control measures known
NHS Healthcare Chaplain contacted, if required.
Liaised with ward staff
Infection Control measures known
NHS Healthcare Chaplain contacted, if required.
Useful Contacts
Alan Gibbon
Head of Spiritual Care Department
01382 423110
NHS Healthcare Chaplains
Ninewells Hospital 01382 632755 or x32755 (from an internal line)
Roxburghe House 01382 740804 or x40804 (from an internal line)
Perth Royal Infirmary, Murray Royal, Cornhill and Perth & Kinross Community Hospitals 01738 473896 or x13896 (from an internal line)
Angus Community Hospital’s (Stracathro, Whitehills, Arbroath) 01382 423110 or x40806 (from an internal line)
For all other Hospital sites 01382 423110 or x40806 (from an internal line)
Out of Hours
07917 183804 to contact and speak with the on call Chaplain.
Head of Spiritual Care Department
01382 423110
NHS Healthcare Chaplains
Ninewells Hospital 01382 632755 or x32755 (from an internal line)
Roxburghe House 01382 740804 or x40804 (from an internal line)
Perth Royal Infirmary, Murray Royal, Cornhill and Perth & Kinross Community Hospitals 01738 473896 or x13896 (from an internal line)
Angus Community Hospital’s (Stracathro, Whitehills, Arbroath) 01382 423110 or x40806 (from an internal line)
For all other Hospital sites 01382 423110 or x40806 (from an internal line)
Out of Hours
07917 183804 to contact and speak with the on call Chaplain.
