Calls for Re-Think on NHS Decision to Axe Chaplains

Archbishop of Birmingham Calls for Re-Think on NHS Decision to Axe Chaplains in Worcestershire 5th September 2006 By The Universe: The Archbishop of Birmingham has condemned a decision by the Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust to axe all but one hospital chaplain and has requested that the decision is reversed. The health trust plans to sack six of its seven hospital chaplains - three Catholics, two Anglicans and one Methodist - as part of a series of cutbacks. Archbishop Vincent Nichols is working closely with the Anglican Bishop of Worcester, Rt Rev Peter Selby, to convince the Worcestershire NHS Trust to reverse its decision, which if implemented, would leave just one Free Church hospital chaplain to cover three large hospitals in Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch. The Archbishop argued his case in a letter to John Rostill, chief executive of the Worcester Acute Hospitals Trust, in which he emphasised that he was ‘responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics’ throughout the Archdioceses of Birmingham which includes Worcestershire. In the letter, made public on Tuesday, he stressed: "For Catholics, access to the ministry of the Church, and in particular the sacraments, is an essential part of life. Despite a welcome growth in co-operation there are specific religious boundaries, which in the end entail that some faith communities can only be ministered to by those of their own faith. "The NHS Chaplaincy Guidelines recognise this and NHS trusts are obliged take this into account in their planning." Peter Jennings, press secretary to the archbishop and the Archdiocese of Birmingham, said the achbishop's letter clearly spelt out the vital role of Catholic hospital chaplains. "The archbishop knows that he has the support of the priests, religious and Catholics who have benefited from the ministry of Catholic chaplains in hospitals throughout the Archdiocese of Birmingham," he said. "He would be grateful if letters could be written as a matter of urgency to the chief executive of Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust and also to the media."