|
Hospital Chaplaincy Funding Today the ICHC Trust Board contracts with the government to provide the Hospital Chaplaincy Services in 48 public hospitals from Kaitaia to Invercargill. There are currently 88 Chaplains serving in 57 full time equivalent positions and supervising 320 voluntary Chaplaincy Assistants. A new 5 year contract between ICHC and the Ministry of Health was signed in August 2008 which has brought the government’s contribution back to 50% of the total cost of the service nationally. It is necessary for the ICHC Trust Board and its Local Chaplaincy Support Committees, to seek the other 50% ($2.3 million) from the Churches and the wider community each year, if it is to maintain its service at its present level. Individual chaplaincies are dependent on the provision of sufficient local
funding, they may make application for
grants from Charitable trusts within their own communities. Our
Local Chaplaincy Support Committees are registered with the Charities
Commission. The Hospital Chaplaincy Foundation - A commitment to the future
A Chaplain Reflects
My pager sounded and I rang the duty manager. "Jo, I am wondering if you could come and sit with a patient who is dying, as there are no relatives nearby". "Sure," I said, "will be there in a few minutes." I arrived in the room; lying in the bed was a very elderly man, breathing very heavily and entering the final stages of his life. A stranger to me, but a fellow human being. This man was someone's son, husband, father, friend and neighbour. I sat down beside him in the chair, placing his hand in mine. I don't know if he even knew I was there. I looked at him and began wondering about him: Where was he born? Did he have brothers and sisters? What job had he done? What were his dreams? Had he achieved them? So many thoughts were in my mind as I sat there. I quietly prayed for him - although I didn't know him, God knew him and God was very present in the room that day. As I sat there in silence, "just being", my eyes wandered to the window looking out as the world was passing. People were going about their work; the autumn leaves floated down past the window; showers of rain danced on the window panes; the wind chased an empty paper bag across the car park. Autumn was well and truly here and winter was fast catching up. My eyes focused back onto this man - his time on this earth was coming to an end. I watched as his breathing changed, his colour changed, he was slipping away. I continued to hold his hands, I wanted him to know he wasn't alone. I was very aware that we come into this world with people around us, and we often leave this world alone. It would be different for this man. He wouldn't be alone. I held his hand and spoke quietly to him. I don't know if he heard me, but I feel he knew someone was there "just being there for him". He was not alone as he arrived at his final destination. Peacefully he slipped away. He had gone. I sat for a few minutes and thought about the very special privilege we as Chaplains have. A tear was shed. I called the nurse, she shed some tears for this special person - a person whom she had got to know. I entered the room as a stranger; I left having spent time with my new friend. My pager went off, "Jo can you please come to..." I left the ward and quietly walked to the next patient, reflecting on the special time I had just been involved in. A question came into my mind: "I wonder who will be there when my life journey ends?" I wonder who will be there when your life journeys end?
|