News from our Sector Ministers
Revd Amanda Pink
Lead Chaplain at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" Matthew 6:3
In my early days in hospital chaplaincy, I was deeply impacted by a group of palliative care nurses that I worked alongside. They were absolutely committed to providing the best possible care for each patient, yet showed no sign of an individual ‘saviour complex’. They were not motivated by appearing good, kind, or caring; rather, they worked together quietly and practically to relieve suffering and promote the wellbeing of those in their care.
I have certainly heard it said, usually with frustration rather than admiration, that when receiving NHS care it can feel as though the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, and perhaps those reading here, or in our communities, will have experienced something of that! But I hope they have also experienced the more beautiful rendering of this phrase – the one that Jesus seems to be driving at in the verse above, and the one I think was exemplified by that team of nurses – resisting the urge towards self-serving showmanship and ego, and instead focusing simply on seeking the best possible outcomes for others.
That is an approach I continue to see among many of my colleagues, not least those chaplains and volunteers who serve in our team (which includes, among others, three other SEBA ministers and volunteers from our churches too). Our hospital ministry is one without much use for pulpits or microphones; it is conducted privately at the bedside and in side rooms. Sometimes our encounters take place in crisis moments that those we meet will rarely speak of again; sometimes they are light-hearted offerings of small-talk, attempting to ease the burden of endless, often tense, waiting. When training new team members I often say to them that even a patient saying ‘No, thank you’ to a visit from one of us can be taken as an encouragement, for in a place where most patients feel they have very little power over their circumstances, we have enabled them to exercise choice in that moment.
The context in which we offer this care is certainly a stretched one. As the NHS looks ahead to implementing the Government's recent 10 Year Health Plan, there is a growing emphasis on moving care from hospitals into community settings, alongside a greater focus on prevention and neighbourhood-based healthcare. While these developments have many potential benefits for patients, they also bring challenges as hospitals continue to navigate financial pressures and changing priorities for investment and service delivery. The plan's focus on shifting resources from hospital-based care toward community services means hospitals, including ours, are having to navigate careful adaption whilst maintaining the support that patients and staff rely upon.
The last time I shared an update, we shared of staffing pressures in our own team. We give thanks that even in these pressing times, God has provided both willing servants and continued support and resourcing from those we report to. Please do continue to pray for us in this regard, and please also pray for our many colleagues across our trust: those with senior management responsibility, those at the coalface, and those providing so many vital support services. Pray for our government, in the ongoing national decisions and leadership with respect to our nation’s healthcare. And of course – please pray for our patients and their families as they face illness, uncertainty and bereavement, that God’s grace would be upon them all, in all its width, and depth.