Spiritual Care Network

About

Help us to widen the lens of the Spiritual Care and Wellbeing department to ensure continued delivery of a service that is relevant to the whole hospital community and be a part of promoting the importance of spirituality within the context of holistic care.

The Spiritual Care Network is the fourth group formed (Ethnic Minority, LGBT+ and Ability Networks) based on the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and reporting to the Diversity and Inclusion Group.

Who is the network for?

One of the core values of the NHS Spiritual Care Policy is to address the fundamental human need to have a sense of peace, security, and hope, particularly in the context of injury, illness, or loss. In its broadest sense ‘spirituality’ includes whatever gives a person meaning, worth, self-esteem, and value. This includes, atheistic, agnostic, and humanistic understandings of the meaning of life, everyone is, in some way, spiritual; but most people are not religious.

Current definitions on spiritual and religious care: Spiritual Care is usually given in a one to one relationship, is completely person centred and makes no assumptions about personal conviction or life orientation. Religious care is given in the context of shared religious beliefs, values, liturgies and lifestyle of a faith community (Scottish Government (2009) Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy).

'Whether a person practises religion or not, the spiritual qualities of love and compassion, acceptance and tolerance, patience, forgiveness, and humility are indispensable. We cannot do without these basic spiritual qualities, whose unifying characteristic is concern for others’ wellbeing, acknowledging human diversity, and respecting the rights of all.' - Dalai Lhama.

How to join

If you are interested or want to ask more questions, please contact Tosh Lynch, Spiritual Care Lead:

GJNH.spiritualcare@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk

Staff Networks