Twelve Humanists UK-trained pastoral carers are now in paid employment in the NHS in England, representing significant growth from when the first post was appointed in 2016.
45% of hospitals in England and Wales now have a non-religious pastoral carer in their team. While some are paid posts, the vast majority are volunteer roles.
The twelve paid posts include a mix of full-time, part-time and casual roles. The staff are located at: Buckinghamshire NHS Trust; University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust; Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Luton and Dunstable University Hospital; Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust; Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust; East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust; Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health Trust; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Chaplains and pastoral carers are highly trained individuals who provide care that offers understanding and empathy to people at some of the most challenging times of their lives. They are responsible for providing the ‘spiritual’ aspect of the holistic model of healthcare recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Humanists UK, which campaigns for equal access to pastoral care in prisons, hospitals, and the armed forces across the UK, including Northern Ireland, said the increase in paid employment roles for members of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network, which Humanists UK facilitates, was a result of growing demand by patients to access non-religious pastoral care, and Humanists UK’s continued efforts to ensure NHS Trusts are providing such care to non-religious patients.
However, Humanists UK warned that this remains an ongoing challenge. A new report released last month showed there are still huge inequalities in pastoral care services with non-Christian patients more likely to miss out on care. The overwhelming majority of posts are still held by Anglicans.
In 2018 Lindsay van Dijk was appointed the first humanist to lead an NHS Trust’s spiritual and pastoral care team.
Humanists UK’s Head of Humanist Care Jessica Grace said: ‘It is exciting that we now have twelve paid posts for non-religious pastoral carers in NHS trusts across England, the highest number to date. We are committed to ensuring that non-religious people have access to pastoral support which reflects their worldview, provided by like-minded individuals, and this shows there is increasing demand for our pastoral carers in hospitals and other settings across the UK. However, there is still a long way to go to full equality, with many posts remaining unlawfully restricted to just Christians. NHS trusts must remain mindful of their equality and human rights duties as to so ensure they are providing patient-centered care to all patients regardless of religion or belief.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Press Manager Casey-Ann Seaniger at casey@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3078 or 07393 344293.
Read more about our work to ensure equal access to pastoral care and chaplaincy.
Read more about becoming a pastoral carer on Humanist Care’s website.
While there are publicly funded pastoral and chaplaincy posts in hospitals, the armed forces, universities, and prisons, Humanists UK supports an end to irrelevant religious discrimination in such roles which are often unfairly reserved only for religious people or people of certain religions.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 85,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.