REPORT OF A STUDY DAY FOR WORLD FAITH CHAPLAINS
17th MARCH 2004

1. A study day for world faith chaplains of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Sikh faiths was held on Wednesday 17th March 2004 at The Derby Royal Infirmary. This report summarises the activities during the day and the action agreed to follow. A list of those who attended is attached as an annex.

2. The day was introduced by Rabbi Martin van den Bergh who outlined the background and history to the formation of the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy in 2002 and reported progress with the development of healthcare chaplaincy in recent years. He indicated that these were early steps and that further support and investment would be needed from all those with an interest in chaplaincy. The Multi-Faith Group's website at www.mfghc.com had news and contact details.

3. Rabbi van den Bergh also outlined how the Jewish community had been able to make progress in supporting its own healthcare chaplaincy. He referred to the website for chaplaincy (www.jvisit.org.uk) and to the booklet about care of Jewish patients. Lastly, he suggested that the presence of the multi-faith group should encourage an end to isolated working as the community of those who wished to support the development of healthcare chaplaincy was now readily available.

4. In answer to a question about the requirement for qualification, it was noted that there were a number of established educational programmes in chaplaincy including those for the MS in healthcare chaplaincy at University of Leeds and those for Muslim chaplaincy at the Markfield Institute in Leicester. The future requirements for education of healthcare chaplaincy were under review within the workforce development strategy Caring for the Spirit (available from South Yorkshire WDC www.sywdc.nhs.uk) and a framework for education was being developed for publication later in the year.

5. Mr Paul Seto explained the progress which had been made within the Buddhist community. Emphasis had been given to ensuring that NHS Trusts appreciated the value of chaplaincy support for their patients and also to seeking ways such as via the census to identify where the Buddhist community was present. Funding Buddhist chaplaincy remained a difficult issue with members having to work voluntarily and often having to give up their work to do so.

6. The development of the NHS' general requirements for educational standing and authorisation had provided further challenge to the smaller communities. The Buddhist community was publishing a directory of Buddhist contacts and would continue to make progress within the general direction set out by the Multi-Faith Group. Progress was slowed without additional resources.

7. Paul Seto outlined the main tenets of Buddhism as it related to healthcare.

8. Mr Bimal Krsna das explained the progress which had been made within the Hindu community. There were 143 Temples within the purview of the national Council. The community was small at about 560,000 individuals with about half living in London. There were very few employed chaplains and all helpers were voluntary. There was no central organisation or secretariat other than that which supported the Temples although there were proposals under discussion for a National Hindu Council.

9. It was intended to publish a Hindu directory in 2004 but progress was slow without additional resources. A small book about caring for Hindu patients was to be published in 2004 and this would explain aspects of dietary guidance and time of dying rituals. Work was also being co-ordinated with colleagues in North America who already had resources prepared and in use.

10. Bimal Krsna das also outlined the main tenets of Hinduism as it related to healthcare.

11. Mr Ajmer Singh Matharu spoke on behalf of the Sikh community.

12. Mr Kirit Khotari spoke on behalf of the Jain community.

13. After a break for refreshment, the plenary session asked for consideration of progress and priorities within each faith community. The main questions for consideration were as follows:

• What resources do we have available (texts, tapes, films, documents)?
• What office services have we got (phone, email, letters, office space, website)?
• What networks have we established (individuals, groups, co-ordination)?
• What training and education do we have (introductory, induction, annual meeting/ conference, recognised teaching course)?
• What arrangements are there to select and authorise chaplains in the faith community's work?

14. The Buddhist group agreed the following action:

• Preparation of an 8-page booklet "Caring for a Buddhist Patient"
• Preparation of bibliography of scriptures and of chaplaincy texts
• Establishment of an 0845 telephone contact number for general enquiries
• An inventory of resources including a map of Buddhist helpers/ volunteers
• Preparation of a modular training programme leading to undergraduate diploma in 120 hours
• Establishment of an emergency service to support those about to die

15. The Hindu/ Sikh/ Jain group agreed the following action:

• Arrange a further meeting in six weeks time to take forward action.
• Identify current chaplains to establish a network for individuals
• Consider responses to the general questions at that meeting.

16. The third group agreed the following action:

• Priority should be given to identifying helpful texts for patient use and guidance for staff
• NHS Trusts needed to review the facilities for part-time chaplains who needed their own space for working time and also facilities for shared space for general and worship use
• The Multi-Faith Group should be asked to help with the availability of resources and protocols for joint working.

17. It was agreed that the record of the day should be circulated widely for information.

DELEGATES ATTENDING THE STUDY DAY FOR WORLD FAITH CHAPLAINS

Mr Tim Battle
Christian
Healthcare Chaplaincy Training and Development Office

Mr Rakesh Bhatt
Hindu
Sandwell General Hospital, West Midlands

Mr Shad Kumar Bhatt
Hindu
Walsall

Revd John Collins
Christian
Bradford Hospitals

Mr Bimal Das
Hindu
Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy

Maharaj Lalitbhai Dave
Hindu
Leicester

Mr Sarbant Singh Dosanth
Sikh
St Luke's Hospital, Bradford

Sister Modgala Duguid
Buddhist
Narborough

Mr Peter Goble
Buddhist
Rayleigh, Essex

Mr Philip Henry
Buddhist
Eastwood, Notts.

Gen Tubchen Kelsang
Buddhist
Oldham

Mr Kirit Khotari
Jain
Jain Samaj Europe, Leicester

Mr Ajmer Singh Matharu
Sikh
Leicester Royal Infirmary

Mr Krishnan Kumar Mittal
Hindu
Bradford Teaching Hospitals

Shastri Prakashbhai Pandya
Hindu
Leicester

Shastri Hitendra Rajyguru
Hindu
Leicester

Revd Graham Rendle
Christian
West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds,

Mr Paul Seto
Buddhist
Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy

Revd Pip Short
ChristianThe Derbyshire Royal Infirmary

Revd Jane Skinner
Christian
Great Western Hospital, Swindon

Venerable U Uttara
Buddhist
St Thomas' Hospital, London

Rabbi Martin van den Bergh
Jewish
Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy

TB 220404

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