Pastoral services
Pastoral services
St John of God Health Care offers pastoral
care to patients, residents and their families through the Pastoral
Services department at our hospitals. Pastoral Care is provided by
pastoral practitioners who are an integral part of the health care
team. They complement and contribute to the overall holistic care
provided to patients or residents, and their families.
Professionally trained services open to all
Pastoral practitioners are professionally trained to relate to patients or
residents and their families through a relationship which
recognises the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and emotional
needs. This can be most important when faced with significant
life events such as illness, suffering, disability, birth and
death.
Pastoral Services is available to patients,
residents and their families inclusive of all cultures and
regardless of religious or spiritual orientation.
Pastoral practitioners can also facilitate
access to:
- the patient or resident’s clergy or religious
community to provide support for them and their family;
- religious rites appropriate to them including
prayer, blessings and sacraments;
- bereavement support and
- the provision of liturgical services in the
facility.
Referrals
A formal referral to Pastoral Services is not
required. Patients, residents and their families can be referred by
any member of staff or may themselves request to see a pastoral
practitioner or chaplain.
This confidential free service is accessible
24 hours/day in most St John of God Health Care hospitals.