About three years ago I spotted a leaflet left on the pew in front of me at church entitled “Chaplaincy volunteers – is this for you?” Canon Edward often encourages us to find a way to share our faith, rather like the 72 “other” disciples when they were sent out by Jesus. In our day to day lives it’s not easy to find the right moment or the right words, but it occurred to me that it might be easier in a hospital setting.
I contacted Rev Emmanuel, an Anglican chaplain in charge of volunteers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and was invited to go for an interview. I was fortunate that a course was starting soon, training volunteers for QEH and Lewisham Hospital. It took almost 4 months before I could actually start on the wards. At first I went round with Fr Nicholas, a Catholic priest based at Shooters Hill parish. Although there were quite a number of volunteers at QEH of different Christian religions, plus Muslim and Hindu, there weren’t any other Catholics, somewhat surprisingly.
Fr Nicholas was keen that I became a Eucharistic Minister so I could take Holy Communion to the wards as required. I had to wait several months before I could become a Eucharistic Minister, but in the meantime I was given two wards to visit, being told to look out for patients who looked as if they would welcome a chat. Whilst the chats might revolve around what brought them into hospital, when I explained that I was there through the Chaplaincy, this would often lead patients to talk about their faith – or lack of it.
My role has changed somewhat over the 2½ years I have been a Chaplaincy volunteer. I now make a list of patients known to the chaplaincy who are recorded as RC, and try to visit these and take them Holy Communion if appropriate. Sometimes they will be lapsed but keen to pray and to reminisce about the church they used to go to, saying that perhaps they will revisit it when they are well enough. There was a man I visited weekly for over 6 months – bed-bound, though only around 60 – who told me how much he valued my visits. Sometimes I come across patients I know – perhaps from church or a neighbour. Some patients get few or even no visitors and it is very satisfying to see how spending 10 minutes with someone can make a difference to them and lift their spirits.
Because I know there aren’t many Catholics on the Chaplaincy team, I try to go every Friday afternoon as far as possible, so I’m not letting people down. The Chaplaincy is appreciative of any help volunteers can give, but regular commitment is particularly valued. Most volunteers do 2-3 hours a week.
Rev Emmanuel has told me he wants to run another course for volunteers but needs to have a few more recruits to make it worthwhile. If you would be interested in knowing more, you may email him on ekormi@nhs.net, or call the Chaplaincy on 020 8836 6831.