Chaplaincy

The chaplaincy at SASH

Coming to hospital can cause many different emotions in patients, relatives, carers and friends. You may want to talk to one of our chaplains or volunteer ward visitors in confidence.

The Chaplaincy team offers spiritual, religious or pastoral support to people of all faiths and beliefs, religious and non-religious.

You do not have to think of yourself as ‘religious’ to make use of our service.

Some people may value the opportunity to talk to someone about what is happening to them and how they feel about the changes they may be facing.

You can talk to chaplains from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. We can also call community faith leaders representing the major world religions and the Humanist Association to support you. The chaplains are assisted by a group of volunteer ward visitors.

Peace and quiet

In busy hospitals you may need a space where you can reflect in peace and quiet. These spaces are open every day:

• East Surrey Hospital (by the East Entrance): open 24 hours.
• Horsham Hospital (along the Molly Andrews Way): open 24 hours.
• Crawley Hospital (near the Dining Room ): open daytime

Services in the chapel at East Surrey

For all other services, including Mass (held on the Holy Days of Obligation), please see the chapel noticeboard or contact the chaplaincy office.

If you cannot get to a service, we can come and visit you on a ward. Please ask a member of staff to contact us for you.

Religious scriptures, books and prayer items are available in our multi-faith quiet room/ chapel.

Muslim prayers

Muslim Juma’h prayers every Friday, 1pm, in the chapel.

Becoming a chaplaincy volunteer

Chaplaincy volunteers come from a variety of local faith and belief organisations. After training, they visit patients with their consent. Their role is to work with the chaplains and to listen and respond sensitively to patients’ needs, and this may mean supporting someone from a very different background. It is strictly forbidden for a chaplaincy volunteer to promote their own beliefs or philosophy, or distribute literature.

To find out more, contact the chaplains on 01737 768 511 x 6120 or sash.chaplains@nhs.net

To apply, go to the volunteering page.

How to contact us

• From inside the hospital, please call us on extension
  East Surrey Hospital: x6120
  Crawley Hospital:       x3141
  Horsham Hospital:     x7226
• From outside the hospital, please call us
  East Surrey Hospital: 01737 768 511 x6120
  Crawley Hospital: 01293 600 300 x3141
  Horsham Hospital: 01403 227 000 x7226

If your call is not urgent, you can leave a message on our answer machine. Or you can email us at sash.chaplains@nhs.net

To reach the chaplains urgently out-of-hours, please contact the switchboard and ask them to page the on-call chaplain for the faith or belief you need

Upcoming events

We have chaplains on call. In an emergency, nursing staff will contact them through the switchboard on 01737 768 511.