On 30th March
Maureen and I joined 113 other delegates from the NHS and Voluntary sectors at
a stimulating conference in Perth
entitled Building Resilience, Enhancing
Community Wellbeing. Five pilot
sites throughout Scotland
placed either a Chaplain or a chaplain-trained volunteer in a GP surgery to provide
a simple, reflective listening service to patients who might otherwise inappropriately
be labelled “depressive”, and would leave the surgery with a prescription for
antidepressants. Another project in Dundee involved the concept “Social Prescribing” whereby similar
patients were assessed for referral to various self-help groups, including the
prescription of exercise through walking or a local health and fitness club.
We learnt that resilient communities “.....demonstrate love,
peace, kindness, joy and goodness, accepting that people do suffer, are able to
remain hopeful in adversity, and yet are able to recover meaning in their
lives.” These are spiritual concepts which
NHS Healthcare Chaplains are now interested in supporting within the community.
Evidence suggests such communities stay
healthier, and make better recoveries from ill health.
How exciting that the NHS is now recognising the value of
enhancing community wellbeing by supporting spiritual need. Could this be an opportunity for Faith groups,
who are part of the community already, to work alongside the NHS professionals?
