Trust supports opening of spirituality and wellbeing department in India

A collaborative project between South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s pastoral care team and the Global Hospital and Research Centre (GHRC) in India has enabled the opening of a new department of spirituality and wellbeing – helping to enhance wellbeing for patients and staff.

Representatives from the Trust’s pastoral care team have been working with staff at the GHRC, in Mount Abu in Rajasthan, to share details of their spiritual framework. This was used as a basis for the development of a new department at the hospital in India, aimed at integrating spirituality into healthcare.

The opening of the department means patients now have an official point of contact where they can find out about a range of spiritual treatments. As part of the plans, the hospital is also developing a resource area where patients can go for further spiritual information.

Nirmala Ragbir-Day, spiritual care training co-ordinator, has been working with the hospital to implement the new framework and said, “The opening of the department of spirituality and wellbeing will have tremendous benefits for patients. It allows them to access a range of support including meditation and groups focused on helping people cope with their illness, which all help to deliver best care to patients.”

As part of the joint initiative between the Trust and GHRC, the Trust’s chief executive, Steven Michael, visited the hospital and also welcomed the team from India to the Trust to share learning and best practice.

Steven said, “I’m delighted that the department of spirituality and wellbeing has now opened. It’s the culmination of a project which has seen both parties sharing best practice in spirituality and healthcare.

“As a Trust, we’re committed to our values as they create a common sense of purpose for all staff. Our work with the GHRC focussed on values and how they could implement these into their way of working to ensure they provide the best possible care to patients. As a result of this work, the hospital decided to open the spirituality department and is now looking at implementing a range of values-based practices within their setting.”

Find out more about the Trust’s collaborative work with the GHRC.