Spiritual care matters
Rebekah Sharp, NHS Greater Glasgow and
Clyde
Learning Objectives
1. Share an improvement approach taken to
ensure that all people are offered the opportunity
to be referred for spiritual care support
throughout their stay in hospital.
2. Share our learning of what difference this makes
to people being cared for, their relatives and
staff.
Background – Spiritual Care
A need for change - Why? (Feedback)
“I have a strong faith but was too scared to ask for a Priest to come and see me.
The staff are always so busy running in and out.”
“I am very anxious and concerned about going home today. I just don’t know how I’ll cope. I am
scared about it all. Nobody has spoken to me to ask
how I feel.”
“I would really love to see the Hospital
Chaplain. I am going home but it would
mean such a lot to me to see the Chaplain.”
“I would like to see the Hospital Chaplain. My
anxiety about my pain levels isn’t being helped.”
What are we trying to accomplish? (Aim)
All patients are offered the opportunity to be
referred for spiritual care support throughout their
stay in the Langlands Unit by December 2017.
What changes can we make that will result in
improvement? (Changes)
1. Direct referral to Health Care Chaplains (not ward diary).
2. Identifying signs of change in behaviour and enquire to find out how someone is feeling and offer support of the Health Care Chaplain.
3. Test different ways of asking questions to enquire and find out if an individual would like to speak to someone independent of the ward team.
4. Update notice boards with information on Spiritual Care and how to access and refer.
5. Raise awareness of the Faith and Belief Communities Manual with all staff.
How will we know that a change is an
improvement?
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Sep 2016 Oct 2016 Nov 2016 Dec 2016 Jan 2017 Feb 2017
Nu
mb
er
Healthcare Chaplaincy Referrals - All Wards
How will we know that a change is an
improvement? (Feedback)
“I have a strong faith and the hospital Chaplain has
been in to see me five times already.”
“All the nurses are very kind, even when they're short
staffed. The Chaplain comes to see me and
that's important to me.”
“My own minister has been in to see me twice and the hospital Chaplain
has also seen me twice.The male HCSW came with me
yesterday to the eye clinic and it was lovely to have a familiar face
there with me.”
Case Study – Example 1
Case Study – Example 2
Key learning
Religion and faith are only one aspect of spiritual
care.
Spiritual care requirements needs to be integral
to the assessment process and also needs to be
re-addressed at times of transition and when
circumstance changes.
Importance of integrating spiritual care into
communication with relatives and carers
particularly for people with cognitive impairment.
Key learning
‘WMTY’ conversations needs to include spiritual
care needs.
Don’t make assumptions that people know the
referral process for spiritual care.
Don’t make assumptions that people don’t have
spiritual care needs just because they don’t
express the need.
Next Steps
1. MDT conversations and meetings to incorporate
‘WMTY’ to find out about Spiritual care needs.
2. Staff awareness of what spiritual care includes
and what the Health Care Chaplaincy Service
can support and provide.
3. For Spiritual Care Assessment to be part of
everyone’s role and responsibility.
4. Everyone who the Healthcare Chaplain visits will
receive a chaplaincy visitation card.
Acknowledgments and thanks
•Jane Short – Activity Coordinator
•Jade Weir – Activity Coordinator
•Lauren Clark – Activity Coordinator
•Sarah Chapman – Activity Coordinator
•Joanne Gourlay – Activity Coordinator
•Alice McCready – Activity Coordinator
•Gillian Hannah – NHS GGC PCHC Team
Questions and Comments...