|PIC1|The Church of England has appealed to the British government to give its full backing to spiritual care within the health service.

The call has come after major changes were announced to be made to the health service in the ways that it takes care of patients.

Among the announcements were moves to reduce the number of people going to hospital by allowing increased numbers of operations to take place locally. The Church has seen this renewal as a chance to adapt and modernise the style of chaplains that operate within hospitals.

Rev Christopher Herbert, the Bishop of St. Albans, putting forward a motion that affirms chaplaincy and the spiritual healthcare as an essential part of healing, described the challenge before Christianity as “immense”.

|TOP|The Church of England General Synod earlier this week backed the motion put forward by Rev Herbert.

Chaplains across Britain have experienced a marginalisation, explained Rev Colin Randall, a dean in Carlisle diocese. He said, “The reality is that all health care chaplaincy is a demanding task.”

He continued saying that he was glad with the results of the report, and that it gave recognition to the work of chaplains.

The Archdeacon of York, the Ven Richard Seed testified chaplains as “God-bearers” in their ministry. He commented, “They need to be supported and valued as an essential ministry that takes them to the very boundaries of church ministry,” according to the Church of England newspaper.

Bishop Herbert explained the major changes that chaplains now faced: “If more and more complex medical procedures are created, the ethical boundaries are bound to be stretched.

“What role could and should chaplaincy play in those circumstances,” he asked.

In conclusion he told how chaplains would have to now analyse and renew its remit as a decreased amount of hospitalisation, and an increased amount of care in the community are given.