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A Bible is comforting to many people

Posted By Silver350

"A Bible is comforting to many people "

About: Victoria Hospital (Kirkcaldy)

(as the patient),

I was looking for a Bible when I was in hospital recently, they always used to have a Gideon Bible in the bedside cabinets but I could not find one. When I asked the nurses about it they looked a bit puzzled and could not offer any explanation. One nurse did say she would speak to the Chaplain to come and see me.

On my last day on the ward I saw the ward Sister and raised the question with her. She explained that all the Bibles had been removed due to risk of spreading infection – she said she had a bible at home which she would bring in for me.

All the staff on the ward were very nice and very caring but a Bible is comforting to many people in a different way. I was taken into hospital by ambulance and was unable to take my Bible with me in all the confusion.

Also on the last day, as I was waiting for my son to collect me, I saw the chapel and thought I’d just go and have a look but it was locked. I’m sure there must have been a reason for this but a shame if people need to ask for a key – they could be in a distressed enough state as it is.

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Responses

Response from Louise Ewing, Clinical Service Manager, Older Adult Services, Health & Social Care Partnership Fife Wide 9 years ago
We have made a change
Louise Ewing
Clinical Service Manager, Older Adult Services,
Health & Social Care Partnership Fife Wide

Submitted on 15/12/2014 at 10:12
Published on Care Opinion at 12:59

picture of Louise Ewing

Dear Silver 350

I am really sorry that I have not responded before now....the good news is that we have made a change on the back of your posting. Here is a copy of the email our Chaplain, Sharon Dick, has sent round the wards.

"Dear Senior Charge Nurses and Department Leads,

We have had a couple of Patient Opinion posts regarding Bibles in the wards/ departments and so I wanted to touch base with you let you know that chaplaincy have a stock of Bibles from Gideons that we can supply each area with. I know that the days are gone where each bedside cabinet has a Bible in it and so I have to think about people having access to a Bible if they request it.

So in the next couple of weeks I shall drop off a supply to each area so that you have them to hand if patients request them. I shall also put one in each quiet room for relatives to access if needed.

We also keep boxes in the Chaplains office of Religious materials for Muslim/Inman, Humanist, Baha'I Faith, Christian and Roman Catholic faiths for people to access if they require it.

The chaplaincy team are here to support you and your staff in caring for yourselves, relatives and patients alike. There is always a chaplain on call 24/7 so please do not hesitate to call if we can assist in anyway. As you know it does not have to simply be for religious issues, at Christmas time people often struggle with bereavement past and present, regrets and hurts and being in hospital can compound that.

Thank you for all your hard work with our patients, relatives and staff. I am very proud to be working along side such a fabby team!

Enjoy your Christmas celebrations, nights out and time with family and friends but most importantly, take care of yourself in this busy season.

Very best wishes for 2015 when it comes!"

Not only have you helped us make a positive change but I am sure the staff will also have welcomed the kind sentiment and support offered in Sharon's email.

Thank you!

Louise

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