Scottish Government

The Scottish Government
Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate
Patients and Quality Division

CEL (2008) 49

17 November 2008

Addresses

For action
Chief Executives, NHS Boards and Special Health Boards

For information
Medical Directors, NHS Boards
Directors of Nursing, NHS Boards
Directors of Human Resources, NHS Boards
Scottish Health Council
Chaplaincy Organisations
NHS Chaplains
Faith/Belief Communities
The Scottish Interfaith Council
Scottish Partnership Forum
SWAG
CoSLA
MSG

Enquiries to:
Sandra Falconer
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Tel: 0131-244 2399
Fax: 0131-244 2989
sandra.falconer@scotland.
gsi.gov.uk
http://www.scotland.gov.uk
or (until end March 09)
Chris Levison
Chaplaincy Training &
Development,
NES,
3rd Floor, 2 Central Quay,
89 Hydepark Street,
Glasgow G3 8BW.
Tel: 0141 223 1443
Email: anne.richardson@nes.scot.nhs.uk

(From April 09)
Ewan Kelly
Chaplaincy training and Development
NES
Thistle House
Edinburgh
0131 313 8059
Email: ewan.kelly@nes.scot.nhs.uk

Dear Colleague

SPIRITUAL CARE

Purpose

1. To provide revised guidance on spiritual care in the NHS in Scotland.

Summary

2. The Spiritual Care Development Committee ( SCDC) was asked to review the implementation of HDL 76 (2002). Revised guidance based on the SCDC report's recommendations is attached as
Annex A. The SCDC report, which includes a copy of the previous guidance, is attached as Annex B and is also available at

http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/spiritualcare/publications/default.asp.

Action

3. Chief Executives are asked to ensure that this guidance is brought to the attention of all appropriate staff and, in particular, to ensure that:

• they have appointed a senior lead manager for spiritual care;
• their Board's spiritual care policy is updated in light of local need and the attached guidance;
• their spiritual care/chaplaincy service is resourced to provide the necessary service throughout the year on a twenty four hour basis. Where this level of service is not currently provided an action plan showing how and when this will be achieved should be developed.

Yours sincerely

DEREK FEELEY