Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Hanham (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 23 October 2006.

NHS: Hospital Chaplaincy

Question: My Lords, is the Minister aware that the attributes of hospital chaplains are unique—those of not just the Anglican or Catholic faiths but all other faiths—and that their attachment to a hospital is of enormous benefit to the patients who need them? As chairman of a hospital that has an active and vital chaplaincy that encompasses all faiths, I hope that the Minister will make clear his support for maintaining the hospital chaplaincy.

Answer: My Lords, I am aware of what the noble Baroness has said, and I have indicated our support for the guidance. I have looked at the Church of England website, which shows that the number of full-time stipendiary clergy fell from just over 11,000 in 1990 to some 8,700 in 2005. Reductions in their services were going on outside the NHS.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 685 c992
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Hospitals Redundancy Ministers of religion Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk