Chaplaincy

The Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Team seeks to provide an appropriate and professional high quality service of spiritual and pastoral care to patients, relatives and staff within the Mid Essex Hospital Trust and the central area of  the North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The Team is led by Rev Julia Sheffield, Anglican Chaplain, with experience in women and children’s medicine.

Her Deputy Team leader is Sister Jean Searson, SP,  Roman Catholic,  who is supported by Fr Niall Harrington, the parish priest from the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Melbourne.  The Team also includes Rev Rufin Emmanuel, Anglican priest, specializing in multi-faith issues, and Mandy Horsley, Lay Chaplain, specializing in Palliative Care.
 
The work of Trust Chaplains is supported by more than twenty Lay Ward Chaplains. These are men and women from a variety of mainstream denominations who are volunteers, and have gone through an interview process and intensive training. They require references, one of which must be from the leader of their local congregation or meeting. If all parties believe that candidates are right for the work, they then must undergo a successful CRB check, and an Occupational Health Check. After this is completed, a formal Contract is signed, and the candidate joins the Team.

They visit wards on a weekly basis, offering pastoral and spiritual support, and outlining the service provided by the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Team.
 
We also have volunteers known as Eucharistic Ministers. These are men and women who are in good standing with their local Christian Congregation and who feel called to take Holy Communion to patients and staff in the Hospital on Sundays. Again, candidates are interviewed, provide references and training is undertaken by members of the Chaplaincy Team.  CRB and Occupational Health checks are also required.

In addition we have Honorary Chaplains for the Jewish and the Buddhist Communities and we hope in the near future to have Honorary Chaplains for both the Muslim and Hindu Communities in Mid Essex. The local Imam will always come in to visit if requested.

The Chapel is located in the South wing on level 2 and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for use by patients, relatives and staff. The new multi-faith centre is located in the new hospital wing, destination A209. 

Services currently held in the Chapel:

• Monday –   12.15 pm Midday Prayers

• Tuesday –   12.15 pm Holy Communion

• Wednesday –  12.15 pm Midday Prayers

• Thursday –   12.15 pm Holy Communion

• Friday –   12.15 pm Midday Prayers      

• Friday –   13.15 pm  Jumma Prayers

• 2nd Friday in the month – 12.15 pm – Roman Catholic Mass

Christian, Moslem, Sikh and Jewish copies of Scripture are available in the Chapel with some available in Braille, large print, cassette tape and cd.

If you would like a Chaplain to call on a friend or relative who may be a patient in one of our hospitals, please call 01245 515244 and speak to one of the Chaplains or leave a message.