In my role as chaplain, I have seen joy in hospital at Christmas as well as sadness

One older woman who was happy to celebrate the festive season on the ward reminded me that hope can arise in the most unpromising circumstances

Enid* had become the granny of the ward. She had been in the hospital for some time. The staff loved her; she knew them all by name and they would seek her advice. The ward was the place where she felt loved and wanted. She had attended services I led in the hospital chapel when she could – and this had become her church.

I went to visit Enid a week before Christmas and this time she was miserable. It was so unlike her: she was usually such a cheerful person and always had a tale or two of her childhood to tell. I asked her what the matter was and she told me that the decision had been made to discharge her. She knew that she did not need to be in an acute hospital any more – but she was going to miss what she saw as her community and ward family.

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Continue reading... December 19, 2017 at 03:19PM