Annex A > Chapter 16 - Support and Counselling > UBH/T Chaplaincy

UBH/T Chaplaincy

Organisation and role

103 One of those involved in counselling both at the BRI and the BRHSC during the period of the Inquiry's Terms of Reference was the Spiritual Advisor to the UBH/T. The Reverend Michael Jarvie held this post until his death in 1992, and was succeeded by the Reverend Yeomans in 1993. The role involves acting as full-time Anglican Chaplain to the BRI, and overseeing other chaplains.

104 The Reverend Yeomans stated:

`In 1993 when I joined the UBHT I felt that the Chaplaincy services were very good and I still do ... With the Trust's agreement, I organised the pattern of Chaplaincy provision - obtaining funding to develop the service and appoint more staff, modify leaflets and notices. However, the basic service remained the same.' [127]

He produced for the Inquiry a plan of the structure of the chaplaincy services, showing the other chaplains in post. [128]

105 In 1993 he drafted a booklet [129] on hospital chaplains for the hospitals' staff, setting out the role of a chaplain and contact names. He told the Inquiry that it was the first leaflet of its kind. The booklet has gone through a number of amendments, and the current version [130] provides detail of how patients of different faiths [131] will wish to be treated, and their attitudes to death, disposal of bodies, post-mortems and organ donation.

106 The Reverend Yeomans described his role:

`My job description specified that I was to respond to the spiritual and religious needs of patients, their families, carers and staff. I am employed full time, i.e. 6 days a week.' [132]

107 In relation to the paediatric cardiac service, he stated that he visited Ward 5 as often as possible:

`I made it a high priority to mingle with those on the ward and to befriend not only the parents but also the children. I would make it known to parents who I was, and that I was available to discuss anything they wanted with them. [133]

`... I visited everyone regardless of denomination, faith or no faith ... The Catholic Chaplain and the Free Church Chaplain came to the BRI one session a week ...' [134]

108 He also explained his role in providing support for staff:

`In addition to supporting parents I would occasionally sit down with staff to discuss what happened and debrief them.' [135]

`When a child died I was always careful to ensure that the staff had attention too. Sometimes I would speak individually to staff, as well as to staff collectively. Staff as well as parents were upset when a child died. It has to be acknowledged that the death of a child has a particular effect on everyone involved.' [136]

109 In 1987 Canon Mann, who worked principally at the BRHSC and St Michael's Hospital (a maternity hospital), set up the body known as `Friends for Patients' to provide day-to-day support and to befriend parents whose children were sick but not seriously ill: `Essentially they gave practical help wherever possible.' [137]

110 In her statement to the Inquiry she said:

`The Cardiac Counsellor for BCH and I set up a Bereavement Support Group for parents from 1992-3. This was found to meet a deep need for those parents who attended ...

`I also provided support to staff who, naturally, also became upset when a child was ill or died ... We also set up a support group (I think this began in 1988) for staff working in Casualty and ITU at the BCH, and in St Michael's ... Marion Stoneham, the General Manager at St Michael's and the BCH, was very supportive and agreed to fund outside speakers to speak at seminars on bereavement.' [138]

Canon Mann told the Inquiry that she also attended functions of the Heart Circle whenever possible. [139]

111 Canon Mann was succeeded in February 1995 by the Reverend Helena Cermakova. The Reverend Cermakova stated:

`Once a year there was a remembrance service arranged by Helen Vegoda specifically for children who had died following cardiac surgery. I believe this had started in 1994. I first helped to organise the remembrance services when I joined in 1995.' [140]

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Footnotes

[127] WIT 0274 0006 Rev Yeomans

[128] WIT 0274 0019. These were as follows. Full-time Anglican Chaplains to the BRHSC and St Michael's: Reverend Charmion Mann (1985-1994), Reverend (now Canon) Helena Cermakova (1995 onwards). Part-time Free Church Chaplains to BRHSC and St Michael's: Reverend A Howell (1983-1993), Reverend J Pye (1988-1993), Reverend M Pullan (1993 onwards). Part-time Free Church Chaplains to the BRI: Reverend Will Minnis (1976-1995), Reverend Bill Welch (1995-1997). Part-time Catholic Chaplains for both sites: Father Francis Collins (1981-1987), Father William Webb (1988), Father John Fairhurst (and while he was on secondment, Father Claudio Rossi) (1989-1990), Father Bernard Charles (1991-1996)

[129] UBHT 0270 0002; `Hospital Chaplains Booklet'

[130] WIT 0274 0021 - 0065 Rev Yeomans

[131] Baha'i, Buddhist, Chinese, Christian of various denominations, Hindu, Humanist, Jain, Jehovah's Witness, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Rastafarian, Sikh and Zoroastrian

[132] WIT 0274 0001 Rev Yeomans

[133] WIT 0274 0003 Rev Yeomans

[134] WIT 0274 0004 - 0005 Rev Yeomans

[135] WIT 0274 0005 Rev Yeomans

[136] WIT 0274 0008 Rev Yeomans

[137] WIT 0273 0010 Canon Mann

[138] WIT 0273 0009 - 0010 Canon Mann

[139] WIT 0273 0011 Canon Mann

[140] WIT 0272 0010 Rev Cermakova