Following the publication of the Francis Report earlier this year, healthcare professionals across the service have faced heightened scrutiny over their ability to show compassion and empathy for their patients.
Whilst care and compassion have always been the values that have underpinned the ethos of the NHS, they are incapsulated in all major religious traditions of the world, being their core principles. A ‘faith inspired’ innovation has now been generated from within our health system to help create interdependency in the community by encouraging the active practice of shared values; truly empowering patients to help each other to live and better enjoy health. Develped with the guidance of Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, the AnonCare health system was highlighted by the NHS Institute as a high impact innovation, dubbed by the media as the new Facebook for health and more recently endorsed by the International Charter for Compassion as a partner in enhancing compassion across the globe. Today’s event will officially launch the AnonCare health network and aims to: 1. Raise awareness and understanding of the importance of compassion and empathy in healthcare 2. Explore new innovative models of improving patient outcomes by enhancing compassion in healthcare 3. Examine new strategies which support faith communities to respond to patients in need of respect and care 4. Provide a platform at local, regional and national level for professionals, faith leaders, clinicians, service users and carers so that they engage with each other collectively in developing best practice in enhancing compassionate care 5. Increase awareness and understand the role faith and service can play in improving patient recovery 6. Take ideas and positive messages about promoting compassion to our respective communities, family and friends and professional services
Jyotveer Singh Gill - Founder of AnonCare A communications specialist who has worked across the UK to promote the public health agenda to a diversity of communities, Jyotveer saw the opportunity to develop a digital ‘faith inspired’ solution to the challenges in the NHS, helping reduce over reliance on healthcare services by creating inter-dependency within the community. The AnonCare innovation (www.anoncare.com) brings together, patients, carers and healthcare professionals in the ‘shared management’ of personal health and wellbeing, ensuring individual well-being is everybody’s responsibility. This event will provide an opportunity to officially launch the exciting AnonCare innovation and demonstrate its value to the health community. Dr Marius Felderhof - Executive Director of Museum of World Religions Dr. Marius Felderhof has spent a number as Head of Religious and Theological Studies, the college and his department were integrated into the University of Birmingham and its department of Theology and Religion. In 2005 he was seconded by the University to the City of Birmingham to act as the drafting secretary to the Agreed Syllabus Conference which devised the groundbreaking 2007 Syllabus for Religious Education. This syllabus committed all the major faiths found in the City to supporting teachers in developing 24 dispositions in young people on the basis of their scriptures, traditions and practices. He has published many articles relating to Theology and to Religious Education and is responsible for authoring and editing three books with a fourth at the publishers. He continues to advise the City of Birmingham on its RE provision as a member of its Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education. Currently, Dr. Felderhof is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religion and the Executive Director of the Museum of World Religions project in Birmingham.
Madge Milligan-Green - Director of OSCAR Birmingham Madge has accumulated over 30 years experience working within the voluntary sector specialising in educational management, project management, youth & community work and working with disadvantaged communities in a variety of settings. One of her Greatest Achievements was receiving the Community Champion Award, afforded to her by Age Concern Birmingham in 2004 on behalf of the Home Office. Madge currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer for OSCAR Birmingham the Organisation for Sickle Cell Anaemia Relief and Thalassaemia Support. Dr Manvir Kaur Hayer - Nishkam Health and Social Care Trust Working with Sikh medical professionals and the wider community to promote Health and Social care, which goes beyond mere functionality and clinical excellence. Drawing upon the interfaith Health and Social care concepts of the Sikh Tradition, the Trust is developing innovative approaches to Health Care in the new millennium within society,marked by diversity, to meet the challenges of a global village. The Trust has invested community resources to create infrastructure and broaden medical provision within the area, committing to community regeneration. Revd Paul Holly - Founder of the Anglican Health Network An Anglican minister with 16 years experience of parish ministry in Manchester and Switzerland. With a growing interest in the role of churches in public services, Paul completed part time studies for a Master of Public Administration at Warwick Business School in 2006. This led to his increasing involvement with the Anglican UN representation in Geneva. Following some research on faith-based health services for the World Health Organization, Paul founded the Anglican Health Network in 2009, with a mandate from the Anglican Consultative Council. Building a membership of 550 people from all parts of the world, AHN has focused on promoting health mission within Anglican churches and amongst international agencies. The most prominent of its projects was a pilot programme of health micro insurance in Tanzania. Paul is committed to developing more sustainable business models for church health services whilst expanding community based health promotion. Paul led the planning group for the Birmingham-based ‘Faith in Health and Healing Conference’ in April 2013.
Toby Lewis - Chief Executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust With over experience 18 years in the service, initially in mental health and primary care before moving into hospital management.Toby worked for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, University College Hospital, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals and Barts Health. He also spent two years in the Downing Street Delivery Unit (2003-05). SWBH NHS Trust is Toby’s fifth Board appointment and his first as Chief Executive. Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh - Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ), Bhai Sahib Bhai (Dr) Mohinder Singh holds two honorary degrees from the city’s universities, and aims to serve and uplift society through the practice of core values – nishkamta, or the spirit of selflessness, being one of them. Inspired by spirituality, the GNNSJ has generated a flourishing culture of volunteering, which has contributed immensely to transform its visionary projects into a reality. For his services to religious faith propagation, community service, education and research, Bhai Sahib has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates from Birmingham’s Universities. He is passionate about values-based education and is the Patron of the Nishkam Primary School which opened in September 2011. An internationally renowned ambassador for faith and service, Bhai Sahib was created a Knight last year by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, in recognition of his dedicated work for Roman Catholic-Sikh relations and undeterred commitment to working for peace among people of all faiths.