Spiritual Care

Person centred spiritual care is part of the care offered by NHS Lothian. It recognises that our beliefs, values and understanding of life can help us cope at times of illness, change or loss.

Spiritual care seeks to help people find meaning, purpose and hope in the midst of illness or uncertainty; affirming that tears and laughter, pain and joy are all part of normal human experience. Talking to someone who is part of the wider hospital team but not involved directly in an individual’s clinical care, can help with feelings of anxiety and fear which may be experienced when coming into hospital.

Many people welcome spiritual care when they have a serious illness, or their health is changing. This is especially true when individuals are:

• looking for help to understand their illness or treatments

• coming to terms with an illness and searching for meaning

• dealing with feelings of anxiety, uncertainty or distress

• facing difficult questions about life, grief or other feelings about death

• caring for someone whose health is getting worse.

Volunteer

The Department of Spiritual Care are currently seeking to establish a Community Listening Service. Trained volunteer listeners support people in their quest to make sense of their life experiences.  Listeners do not provide counselling or any kind of psychological intervention.  Rather they walk alongside the person telling the story, asking open questions and offer support and encouragement.

Volunteer Listeners are carefully selected and undergo appropriate recruitment, screening, and training before starting as a listener. Once trained, they are offered ongoing supervision and opportunities for continued development. The delivery of the service is managed and governed by the Department of Spiritual Care in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Email    loth.spiritualcare@nhs.scot

https://www.nhslothian.scot/GetInvolved/Volunteering

Phone  0131 242 1990 (21990)