NEWS
Lessons learnt from World War One
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Amid the destruction and chaos of WW1, and in response to the injuries sustained innovations in medicine and surgical techniques led to much that we take for granted today.
The need for cleanliness in caring for the wounded, the development of blood transfusions, the idea of triage ( the order of treatment dependant on need) are all common place now – if you go to Accident and Emergency Department you will see the Triage Nurse first who will prioritise your care. The National Blood Transfusion Service is now an integral part of our NHS. There was the development of the Thomas splint, for dealing with broken legs and of course the gas mask!
The words Shell Shock were used for those who were suffering from what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - the verbal expression of trauma.
Those who declared themselves unable to cope, through shell or combat shock or devastating loss of comrades, were generally treated as malingerers rather than victims.
Few doctors, with the notable exception of W.H Rivers and Arthur Brock at Craiglockhart Hospital for victims of shell shock, explored the verbal expression of trauma. Before 1917, treatment for shell shock involved being forbidden to talk about the war. One officer, treated by Rivers at Craiglockhart, said ‘that it was obvious to him that memories such as those he had brought with him from the war could never be forgotten. Nevertheless, since he had been told by everyone that it was his duty to forget them he had done his utmost in this direction. It was felt that silence settled the mind, and that unpleasant memories could be replaced by means of pleasant activities such as walking and sports. An advertisement in the Pall Mall Gazette (8 May 1919) read: ‘So bury all those unpleasant memories in Dora’s waiting grave … and get your Austin Reed straw hat to signalise the event’ [DORA was the Defence of the Realm Act].
A poem by Cecil Lewis demonstrat1es this aspect of war and reminds us all of not only PTSD, but other mental health issues in society today:
Photo by Thomas Quaritsch on Unsplash
War is never over
Though the treaties may be signed
The memories of the battles
Are forever in our minds
War is never over
So when you welcome heroes home
Remember in their minds they hold
Memories known to them alone
War is never over
All veterans know this well
Now other wars bring memories back
of their own eternal hell
War is never over
For I knew world war two
And I'll not forget the battles
Or the nightmares that ensue
War is never over
Those left home to wait know this
For many still are waiting
It was their farewell kiss
War is never over
Though we win the victory
Still in our minds the battles
No freedom is not free
Revd Debbie Hodge
Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy, Free Churches
Project Officer NHS Chaplaincy Project
Free Church Healthcare Chaplains Study Day
Photo by Nicole Honeywill
Date: Thursday 8th November 2018, 11:00-16:15
Venue: Free Churches House, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH
Free Church Health Care Chaplains are invited to join the study day at Free Churches House on 8th November 2018.
What to Expect
Photo by Tim Marshall
The day will include the update information of the Healthcare Chaplaincy, Mental Health First Aid Course (Limited for 16 participants at the cost of £15 for the course materials), the update on Community Chaplaincy and a Prayer Walk. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on the day.
Programme
10:30 am Coffee/Tea
11:00 am Welcome
11.05 am Opening Worship
11-15 am Update on National Picture, Regional Meetings and ‘What’s on your agenda?’
12:00 pm Mental Health First Aid Course for up to 16 participants (£15 for the course materials)
Lunch
Update on Community Chaplaincy
A Prayer walk
4.15 pm Closing remark
I would be very grateful if you could return the completed booking form at your earliest convenience. The booking form is available here. For more information and booking, please contact Thandar at 02036518338 or email at thandar.tun@freechurches.org.uk
We look forward to seeing you on 8th November.
Debbie Hodge
Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy, Free Churches Group
This information is available to download here.
Story about the Community Chaplaincy
Photo by Rita Vicari
So, you don’t go to church but…
Often people in hospital who may have not declared a faith or belief affiliation find comfort and support from the pastoral and spiritual care given by the Chaplaincy team, but what happens when they go home?
In Doncaster the role of Community Chaplaincy has been explored in relation to end of life care. For these patients, the support in terms of spiritual and pastoral care for them and their families is high on the agenda when in hospital or the hospice, but when they go home it can be a very different story.
A team of volunteers were trained in Community Chaplaincy support and, with support from GPs and palliative care, staff were enabled to visit patients in their own homes. Once patients were advised that the service was available, community chaplaincy visitors were then given the referral from the GP practice, contacting the patient to arrange a visit.
Story One
The female patient was referred to us as someone who was missing contact with her church. She was allocated to one of our volunteers who is active in her own church, of a different denomination from that of the patient. At the initial visit the volunteer was welcomed very positively, both by the patient and her husband. The patient was in the last months of life and appeared to have difficulty talking, or at least talking made things hard for her. The volunteer and the patient jointly decided that it was not necessary for there to be face to face visits. Instead contact was made for a while by telephone and then, when talking became even more difficult, contact was maintained by the volunteer sending the patient bible reading notes and prayers, which the patient very much appreciated. Towards the end of her life, the patient was admitted to the hospice and the volunteer visited her there. She reported that speech was even more difficult. [The nurses on the ward, and the specialist palliative care nurse all reported that the patient's speech was not causing her difficulty; indeed she used her voice to make her husband's life quite miserable, both at home and in the hospice, but the volunteer did not see this.]
The patient returned home to die and her husband rang the volunteer to let her know and to tell her where and when the funeral was taking place. The volunteer said that they had quite a long conversation and she asked me if it would be all right to attend. I confirmed that it would and that, as the service is for patients and their families, if she felt the husband would welcome her continued support, it was all right to offer.
Visits were arranged depending on the needs of the patient and their family - usually once a week. Most visits lasted no more that approximately 45 mins.
Story Two
The male patient was referred to us as someone who, as he was approaching the end of his life, was remembering a difficult beginning to his life and needed to talk about it. He was not religious but agreed to the referral. The volunteer, also active in her church, visited him at home. His wife was present and the volunteer said that he did not say very much. Our feeling was that he had opened up so much to the specialist palliative care nurse that he no longer needed our input in depth. He and his wife both said that they were pleased the volunteer had visited but that as he was able to get out quite a lot, they didn't feel the need for regular contact. However, the patient said that if the volunteer happened to be passing, it would be all right for her to call in. This she did on several occasions and mostly it was a chat on the doorstep, but sometimes she was invited in, especially when his wife was out. This was when the patient opened up more. The volunteer invited them to some non-church activities and they attended one. The patient is very gradually becoming worse and his ability to get out of the house is lessening. The volunteer continues to maintain contact.
The delivery of intentional spiritual care (Community Chaplaincy Support) is based on the model developed by Revd Debbie Hodge (2015). The four stages of the model are Encounter, Relationship, Transaction and Reflection as shown below. Under each stage is a description of the indicative content.
The aim of intentional spiritual care is to replace ‘Pain’ in the diagram below with ‘Peace’
This change is achieved when Spiritual care needs are met and the individual is at ‘ease’ with themselves and their situation, and may be related to faith or belief, understanding, resilience, relationships and self-awareness.
For more about this story contact debbie.hodge@freechurches.org.uk or meg.burton@freechurches.org.uk
This story is available to download here.
SPIRITUAL CARE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE SETTINGS – COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY PROGRAMME
Date: Thursday 4th October 2018 & Tuesday 5th February 2019
Location: Free Churches House, 27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH
For those who connected with a faith community there is both social and spiritual support. For those who aren’t where is their spiritual support in times of health care crisis?
This day will be based on the shared experience of individuals working in Community Health Care Chaplaincy and will enable participants to build their plan to make a difference in their community.
This is an opportunity for the church to make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of the local community.
Programme
Tea and Coffee available from 10.30am
11:00 Welcome and opening prayers
11:10 What is community Chaplaincy?
The principles and model of care
The story of Soweto
11:45 Transferring the model to the UK
The story of Doncaster
The story of Lincoln
12:30 Lunch
13:30 What might this look like in your church?
Connections
Practicalities
Support
14:30 What else do we need?
15:00 Round up and closing prayers.
15:15 Home time
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
The cost is £10 for a day and you are advised to book early as places are limited.
For more information, please contact Thandar Tun (thandar.tun@freechurches.org.uk or 02036518338).
To book a place, please complete and return the booking form to thandar.tun@freechurches.org.uk or post to Free Churches Group, 27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH.
This programme is available to download here.
Engaging with the Issues
A series of Round Table Discussions on topics that are engaging the hearts and minds of the Community, the churches, local and national government at Free Church House, 27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH.
Spiritual Care in Community Health Care Settings – Community Chaplaincy
Thursday 4th October 2018 & Tuesday 5th February 2019
For those who connected with a faith community there is both social and spiritual support. For those who aren’t where is their spiritual support in times of health care crisis? This day will be based on the shared experience of individuals working in Community Health Care Chaplaincy and will enable participants to build their plan to make a difference in their community.
Dementia – caring for the carers as well as those who have dementia
Wednesday 3rd April 2019
The rate of increase in the incidence of dementia means that everyone knows someone who has dementia or who is caring for someone with dementia. This day will enable churches and individuals to learn from others in looking at opportunities to these needs in the local community.
Dying Matters
Thursday 29th November 2018
It’s a certainty – we will all die. This day will enable participants to explore the contemporary aspects of death and dying and look at ways to provide safe spaces when matter of death and dying may be explored. Ways of meeting the spiritual needs of those who are dying and their families will also be discussed.
Each day will begin with coffee/ tea and registration at 10.30 with a formal start at 11am and finish at approx. 3.30pm, lunch and refreshments will be provided.
The cost is £10 for each day and you are advised to book early as places are limited.
Please contact Thandar Tun (thandar.tun@freechurches.org.uk) with any questions.
This information is accessible to download here.
To book please complete and return the booking form.