Secularists don't want Hospital Chaplains
Tony Sanderson of the Secularist Society said on BBC Radio 4 that as Chaplians were a faith issue, then they should no be financed by the National health Service and instead piad for by churches, mosques and temples. He suggestes that it costs the NHS £40m per annum and the money could be better spent on medical matters or cleaning of hospitals
Spammers of the infantile kind
Someone's been busy over the New Year! All those viagra spam emails posted en masse. Ah, what poor souls, that the only response they can make to ethical issues is to vent their rage with spam mailings.
Well, my comment on this issue is that I know several NHS Chaplains, and they do an incredibly good job. They do not inflict themselves upon those who do not wish their services. But those who do get their support are greatly helped. Those who criticise should speak to such patients (and their relatives and friends) to find out how helpful the Chaplains have been to them. The NHS knows the benefits are enormous, otherwise they would not engage them! This has got nothing to do with denomination, or even having any religious belief. It has to do with spending time with people who are in distress, who want to either talk, or to have someone just sit quietly with them. Nurses, doctors or cleaners cannot do that.
Chaplains
Chaplains work with folk of all faiths and none to ensure people have an opportunity to explore hopes and fears, ethical questions , decision making and review experience. Armed forces,hospitals and universites as well as prisons value and pay for this, and it makes economic good sense