Chaplaincy
amidst Covid Suzanne Hamilton looks at how the work of hospital chaplains has changed during the pandemic.
O
ver the past year the healthcare system across Ireland, both north and south, has been under immense pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Quite rightly, there has been much media and political focus on the immense pressures endured by doctors and nurses, but perhaps less has been said about others in the healthcare system who have steadfastly carried out their duties in these unprecedented times – the porters, care assistants, kitchen staff and hospital chaplains. Presbyterian chaplains serve in hospital settings throughout Ireland, from County Londonderry’s Altnagelvin Hospital in the north to Cork University Hospital in the south. All have seen their ministry change as the world adapts to the challenges of Covid-19. “Don and doff ” is how Rev Ken Doherty describes his new routine at Belfast’s Mater Hospital. Pre-Covid, chaplains were only armed with Bibles as they made their visiting rounds. Now
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it is a case of putting on a whole range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as aprons, gloves, hairnets, face coverings and visors. “These days it’s don and doff all the PPE stuff… All of that takes time. Each visit takes longer as in most cases we have to change between visits,” he says. Rev Mark Proctor, a part-time chaplain in Tallaght Hospital, agrees, saying that previously PPE would only be required for certain patients, but has become increasingly necessary due to Covid. “It’s kind of weird, it’s business as normal but with extra precautions in place.” A year down the line, Mr Proctor says he has settled into the new routine. “I think in the beginning it was more unsettling because we didn’t know what the dangers were… in one place there
Some are quite terrified…not for themselves, it’s for their families.
were very little precautions, but in the next ward they were wearing space suits – it was inconsistent. Definitely things have settled down and we know what we’re meant to do and what to wear. It’s just being careful.” Donning PPE isn’t the only new routine the chaplains have had to adjust to. Visiting is also different due to restrictions introduced. “Previously I was just visiting anybody, at any time in any ward, day or night. Now it’s very much targeted visitation,” explains Mr Doherty. Visits from family members have also been scaled back, which means that interactions with the chaplains have an added importance. “Visits are very much appreciated, now even more so,” he says. Ironically, while each visit takes longer due to the new precautions, the time spent with each patient is shorter. During these calls, Mr Doherty explains that many patients need reassurance. “Some are quite terrified…not for themselves, it’s for their families. Yesterday I called in with one man and his big concern was his wife and his family. He was recovering from Covid.”
