Social media icons
Chaplaincy and pastoral care
Spiritual, pastoral and religious care for all people
Whatever it is that brings you into one of our hospitals, we hope to support you with:
- A listening ear
- A friendly face
- Contact with our local faith communities
- Someone to accompany on spiritual questions
- Support if you wish to follow a particular faith
- Holy Communion, prayers and blessings
- A range of Holy Books and Spiritual resources
- Support in bereavement, grief and loss
- Celebration of and thanksgiving for life events
Our Chaplaincy Team
Our Chaplaincy team consists of a range of faith traditions and practice, including chaplains, honorary chaplains and chaplaincy visitors- our volunteers—who together offer a wide range of support to those who would like our help. We support patients’ relatives and staff on life questions- simple pastoral concerns or the big questions of life and death- by visits to wards and departments, offering both regular ongoing contact and on-call visits.
We follow our Trust value of RESPECT for all persons, regardless of faith tradition. We hope to be as inclusive in our practice as possible. We understand each person needs support that meets their pastoral and possible faith needs, and we look to help folk find the right way for them, led by their needs alone.
It is very important to the Trust that the pastoral, religious and spiritual care of patients is supported by all, as part of our patient care. We are a small team and work across the Trust hospitals; so please ask a member of staff to contact the Chaplaincy Department and they will find out who is the best person to talk with you...just to sit quietly, or to call another team member, for example a priest or our Imam, or to contact a local religious leader—for example a Rabbi..
Do let us know if one of your family or friends would like a visit or if you are in hospital and would like some spiritual care. We will do all we can to help you. Ask for the on- call chaplain if it is an urgent situation... Chaplains and volunteers from the team may visit your ward, please do feel free to talk to us at any time.
Our chaplains do have a list of local churches and other faith communities and can offer to contact them for you – but only if requested --should it be important that you have your own faith leader, or someone from a particular spiritual tradition. Patient’s situations are not discussed outside our NHS team, so only with your express permission may others be informed of your situation whilst in hospital
Chaplains can be contacted via a member of staff, through the hospital switchboard on 020 8296 2000 or directly on 020 8296 2917 for non-urgent calls- please leave us a message. Non-urgent queries by email are also possible to esth.chaplains@nhs.net.
During your stay with us in hospital your own minister or parish priest may wish to visit you and of course they will be most welcome; the hospital chaplains and chaplaincy volunteer visitors are also authorised to administer the sacraments to patients in the hospital. Please ask.
Worship opportunities
Our chapels and multi-faith rooms are open day and night for quiet, prayer and reflection
Please see our timetable or contact us for our weekly services. Sometimes due to clinical pressures we do have to cancel or reschedule at short notice.
The chapels and multi-faith room
Both hospitals have a chapel/multi-faith room; they are an oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of our hospitals. They are usually open and available for reflection, quiet time or personal prayer or even as a quiet place where you can just be.
At St Helier Hospital, the chapel/multi-faith room is on the ground floor between B and C blocks. At Epsom Hospital, the chapel/multi-faith room is on the ground floor near to the lifts in Wells Wing.
Access to both chapel/multi-faith rooms is accessible for wheelchair users
Holy Communion is celebrated in the chapels at various times and is always available for patients who wish to receive this sacrament, which is usually distributed at the bedside. Please ask a member of staff to contact the on-call chaplain if you wish to receive this, or other sacraments.
Meet our team
We are a diverse team of chaplains, fully trained in hospital chaplaincy work, including ordained and faith leaders, as well as lay voluntary chaplaincy visitors who are trained and supported by our Chaplaincy staff. We seek to be inclusive of all by practice. We continue this in our patient, relative and staff meetings as well as our offer of resource to all we serve here.
We will be posting our team picture in the near future...but please be in touch, or call us, so we may meet you...
Memorial services
All chaplaincy events are fully open to all; of all faiths and none.
Annual event - “A Time to Remember”
An open sharing space for those who want a simple time for quiet memorial and remembrance for their loved ones -led by staff from the Palliative Care team and nurses of our Trust, with readings and music. This is a non-religious event, open to all. It is to be held on October 20 at 3pm in the Education Centre at St Helier Hospital –The Whitehall Lecture Theatre, Postgraduate Medical Centre. This may be found as in Block E on the hospital map, several minutes’ walk from the hospital car park, behind the main hospital building, close to Queen Mary’s hospital.
If you would like further information about either event please call the chaplaincy on 0208 296 2917 or email us at: esth.chaplains@nhs.net.
COVID-19 has been a very dificult time for many of patients and families in our community. The Palliative Care Team have put together a 'Time to remember' video to support those who have been bereaved in our local community. You can give this a watch below:
Remembrance books
Books of remembrance can be found in the chapel and multi-faith rooms of both Epsom and St Helier hospitals.
St Helier book of remembrance - adults
If at a future date you wish to have your loved one's name entered in the book of remembrance at St Helier Hospital, please contact the League of Friends on 020 8296 2462. The League of Friends office and shop are on the ground floor of Ferguson House...near the Springall Unit, or forms may be found in the chapel/multi- faith room at St Helier.
Books of remembrance for babies and small children
We hold these books, one in each hospital in the chapel/multi faith room. If you wish to have an entry made; please contact our chaplains on tel: 020 8296 2917 or via email at: esth.chaplains@nhs.net.
Get connected
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on LinkedIn
- Review on NHS Choices
- Watch our videos
NHS image placement
