What do Healthcare Chaplains do?
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust recognises pastoral, spiritual, and religious care as a significant part of giving care. This includes not only someone’s physical health, but also their social, emotional and spiritual health and well-being. The chaplains visit the wards regularly and are also available on-call throughout the night, when needed. People choose to speak to chaplains for many reasons. You do not have to be religious to ask for a visit. We are here to support patients, carers, and staff.
We support by:
- Respecting the faith, religion or non-religious world-view to which you subscribe
- Sharing what gives you hope
- Offering compassionate care
- Discovering what helps you cope
- Helping you find strength in uncertainty
- Valuing what is important to you.
We understand the relation between faith/belief, illness, and the emotional and mental conflicts that can happen. We seek to motivate and start meaningful use of each individual’s beliefs and attitudes in helping with their difficulties.
Chaplains are employed by the Hospital Trust, and are part of the therapeutic team. They work with and alongside other health care professionals to give psycho-social-spiritual services for patients and their families. The Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team receives regular patient referrals from staff. We contribute to patients’ overall care through regular involvement with, and speaking with members of multi-disciplinary teams.
Assisting the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team are Roman Catholic priests in all areas, and representatives of other faiths / beliefs who can be called upon as required. If you have a set faith/belief practice, we can support you to maintain this. Or we can arrange for someone from your faith/belief group to visit you.
There are quiet rooms available on each site which are open 24/7. They can be used for reflection and prayer without needing to book in.
Contacting the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team
Please ask a member of the ward care team who will contact the Scunthorpe Pastoral and Spiritual Care Office, Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, and the on-call chaplain after hours and on week-ends. The Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team offer a 24-hour, 365-day service. The on-call chaplain does not stay on-site overnight. However, we are almost always able to be with a patient/family within an hour of receiving an out-of-hours call.
Urgent calls
8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday: Call Switchboard and ask for the Scunthorpe Pastoral and Spiritual Care Office.
After hours and on weekends: Call Switchboard and ask for the on-call chaplain.
We aim to respond to urgent call-outs within one hour.
Non-urgent
Call Switchboard and ask for the Scunthorpe Pastoral and Spiritual Care Office or email nlg-tr.chaplaincyteam@nhs.net.
If no chaplain answers your call, please leave a message on the voicemail. We aim to respond to non-urgent calls within 24 hours.
The Pastoral and Spiritual Care team seek to visit most of the wards throughout the hospital on a regular basis. It is recognised that there are times when visiting a ward may not be ideal, and patients are sometimes away from the bedside.
The Pastoral and Spiritual Care team are always happy to receive requests for visits to anywhere in the hospital. There are post boxes outside the Chapels in Scunthorpe and Grimsby where non-urgent messages for the Chaplains can also be left.
In an emergency, please contact the Scunthorpe Pastoral and Spiritual Care office through the Switchboard.
Chaplains are available to all faiths and beliefs
Assisting the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Team are Roman Catholic Priests for all sites as well as representatives of other faiths / beliefs who can be called upon as required. If you have a set faith/belief practice, we can support you to maintain this. Or we can arrange for someone from your faith/belief group to visit you.
Pastoral and Spiritual Care Volunteers
Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering with the Pastoral and Spiritual Care team. We would be pleased to sit down and have a conversation with you. Please feel free to email the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Department at nlg-tr.chaplaincyteam@nhs.net.
Finding the Chapels
Rites and Rituals
Bedside services and prayers are available on request at each site. Please ask a member of the ward care team who will contact the Scunthorpe Pastoral and Spiritual Care Office, Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, and the on-call chaplain after hours and on weekends. Bedside Communion, Services of Anointing, Confession and Reconciliation are available on request. The Chapels are available at all times for private prayer or quiet reflection.
Books of Remembrance
Remembrance books are kept within a glass cases inside each chapel and are open on the present month. The names of staff and patients who have died can be inscribed in the book for adults. Babies and children who have died can be inscribed in the book dedicated to them. To request an entry in the books, please complete the memorial book entry form which is included in the bereavement package you have been provided with or by contacting the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Office on extension 302489. If you wish to view a memorial book entry, please try to give us a week’s notice.
Where We Are
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Chapel: Located on C floor of the hospital, behind the Emergency Department on the Cliff Gardens side of the hospital.
Vestry Office: Just across the corridor from the chapel.
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Chapel and Offices: Located on the ground floor in the main building of the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, adjacent to the Physiotherapy Department and the Bereavement Suite
Goole District Hospital
Chapel and Office: Located on the main corridor just beyond Ward 3 on the right hand side. The Chapel and Prayer Room are open 24 hours for staff/patients and visitors to use for times of quiet and prayer.
Meet the Team
Trust Chaplains and Admin Staff
Revd Harry Smart, Senior Site Chaplain
I was appointed as a Chaplain at SGH in 2013 and I was subsequently appointed the Lead Chaplain in 2019 to oversee the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Service for the Trust. I am currently on placement to Hull University Teaching Hospitals, however, I normally visit NLaG wards on Saturdays.
Shane Linford, Trust Chaplain
I was appointed as Chaplain in 2017. I visit the wards on a daily basis to support patients, carers, and staff.
Revd Jon Bellfield – Part-time Trust Chaplain
I was appointed as part-time Chaplain in 2022. I visit the wards on on the days I am in the trust to support patients, carers, and staff.
Sara Sharpen, Pastoral and Spiritual Care Admin Assistant
I was appointed as Admin Assistant in November 2023. I work between DPOW and SGH Hospital. I am at DPOW on a Monday and SGH on a Tuesday and Thursday. I support the Chaplains at both Hospitals with administration and secretarial duties.
Bank Chaplains
Steve Green
I have been a Bank Chaplain since 2023
Revd Paul Dickinson
I have been a Bank Chaplain since 2023
Revd John Boardman
I have been a Bank Chaplain since 2021
Ms Rebekah Pink
I have been a Bank Chaplain since 2023