How Wigan's hospital chaplains are supporting NHS staff, patients and relatives during the Covid-19 crisis

But they are not the only employees supporting people needing medical treatment at this time.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust has a chaplaincy team which offers assistance for patients, their families and members of staff, whatever they want to talk about.

And during the coronavirus pandemic, their support is needed more than ever.

The Reverend Canon Anne Edwards is a full-time chaplain and has been at the trust for 16 years.

She said: “We are still there for patients, relatives and staff for pastoral, spiritual and religious care. That’s care for everybody, of all faiths or none.

“We are carrying on supporting our patients as best as we can. That involves going with PPE, spending time on the wards with them and doing a lot of staff support, because they are working in difficult conditions at times and with the increased workload or changed workload where staff are deployed, that comes with different pressures.”

Donning personal protective equipment (PPE), Rev Cannon Edwards spends time on wards talking to patients, supporting them and praying if they request it.

She said: “A lot of people when they go to a hospital bed, with time to think, issues do come up. It might be issues from the past that they want to talk through, some people will start asking questions like ‘why me?’ or turn to God in some way when they haven’t before.”

She is also supporting the families and friends of patients, but has to do this remotely by phone calls and other means.

“We tend to do a bit remotely anyway, but the amount of it has increased. We don’t have families at bedsides - most are unable to visit either because of the restrictions on visiting or because they are self-isolating. Some families are finding that very difficult,” she said.

Rev Cannon Edwards speaks to family members about their loved ones and can pass on messages to the patient, which she says make a “huge difference”.

She can also get involved with special occasions, recently arranging for cards from relatives and a cake to be taken to a patient celebrating a significant birthday.

There is a lot of support on offer from the chaplaincy team for members of staff working across the trust as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Rev Cannon Edwards said: “They have concerns about Covid-19, concerns for family, health and that sort of thing. We have had staff who have lost loved ones so bereavement support is available.”

Both the chapel and prayer room have social distancing measures in place.

A “quiet time” is held in the chapel each day for staff and they can talk to the chaplaincy team for support.

She said: “Obviously staff are dealing with a difficult situation. They are working very well as teams, quite often supporting one another - when one person has a bad day, they are there to offer support. Everyone reacts differently to these situations.

“We are doing an absolutely superb job on the wards, I can’t underestimate that, having been out there and seen what they are doing.

“The applause on Thursday nights is being very appreciated and well received.”

Friends and family of patients wishing to seek support from the chaplaincy team can contact them by calling the hospital trust’s switchboard on 01942 244000.

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