Getting Here | Contact Us | A to Z of Services                          

                                            




You are here  : Home Press 2009 Press Releases 2009 Opening of Multi-Faith Centre
Opening of Multi-Faith Centre
Written by Communications Team   

National and local speakers from different faiths and backgrounds gathered together at Ashford Hospital this week (11-05-09) to celebrate the opening of the hospital’s Multi-Faith Centre and to share their experiences and answer questions from almost 100 people attending the event.
 
The opening of the Multi-faith Centre was part of a day-long conference called “Celebrating Spiritual Care” looking at the role of healthcare chaplaincy in the NHS today.  Speakers shared their experiences and answered questions about the scope of Spiritual and Pastoral Care offered to hospital patients and their loved ones.
 
Said Director of Strategy for the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, Paul Bentley: “Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust prides itself on its diversity and its commitment to meeting the very varied needs of both its patients and its staff – who are made up of 52 different nationalities and many varied faiths and beliefs. We were very pleased to have host the conference and have the formal opening of our new Multi-Faith Centre at the same time. The Centre has been designed for the use of all patients, staff, visitors, volunteers and friends.
 

 
Spelthorne Mayor Simon Bhadye and Paul Bentley after the Multi-Faith Centre opening
 
“The Conference was a very important event to celebrate the contribution that all our communities make towards the care of all our patients, their families and all the other people involved in the daily life of the hospitals.
 
“Our Trust’s Head of Pastoral Care is responsible for facilitating the spiritual care of our community and this work is increasingly Inter-Faith. We are indebted to the local clergy and faith leaders who support the Ministry of the Chaplaincy. An event such as this conference enables us to express some of our appreciation to them all.” 
 
“A very high proportion of the people that they see are people who have no particular Faith allegiance but are asking for spiritual support at a time of crisis and need, and it is a privilege to be able to offer that support.”



 
Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Chairman Aileen McLeish presents flowers to Trust Head of Pastoral Care the Rev Judith Allford
 
Summing-up the events of the day, the Rev Judith Allford said: “I am very grateful to the Trust for the consistent support it gives to those who are responsible for providing spiritual care to our patients, families and staff. Monday was a great encouragement to our Pastoral Care team and to those who support us in the community.”
                                                                                                               
 
The new Multi-Faith Centre at Ashford Hospital was opened by the Mayor of Spelthorne, Simon Bhadye, himself a former senior member of the nursing staff at the Trust. The St. Peter’s Hospital Multi-Faith Centre opened in July 2008. Facilities in both Centres include the existing Chapel, a Multi-faith Prayer Room, a Quiet Room and an Ablutions Room for the use of those who observe ritual washing before prayer.
 
Speakers at the conference included the Rev. Mia Hilborn, Head of Spiritual Health Care and Chaplaincy Team Leader from Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; the Rev. Edward Lewis, Chaplain to HM The Queen and  Secretary to the Hospital Chaplaincies Council; Fr. Peter Scott, Westminster Diocese Healthcare Chaplaincy Advisor and lecturer in healthcare Chaplaincy at St. Mary’s College, Strawberry Hill and Rabbi Jackie Tabick, North Surrey Synagogue and Chair of the World congress of Faiths and executive member of the Interfaith Network.
 
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 May 2009 13:47 )