Chaplaincy in hospice and hospital: findings from a survey in England and Wales.
The purpose of this study was to identify and compare key features of spiritual care provision in hospices and acute hospitals within England and Wales. A survey by postal questionnaire was carried out on the perceptions of senior chaplains in 151 hospices and 194 hospital trusts. The overall response rate was 76%. The findings of the survey suggest (a) a trend away from establishing chapels as the spiritual focal point within hospitals and hospices, (b) the development of broader roles for chaplains, (c) a different level of service provision between hospices with funded chaplaincies and hospices with voluntary chaplaincies, (d) a wide range of non-religious spiritual care requirements on the part of patients and (e) a more frequent requirement for religious care in hospitals rather than hospices.
Wright
M C
MC
Hospital Chaplain, Doncaster Royal and Montagu Hospitals NHS Trust, Doncaster, UK. m.c.wright@sheffield.ac.uk
D002604:Chaplaincy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003625:Data Collection; D004739:England; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006738:Hospices / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D014838:Volunteers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales