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Spiritual healthcare (chaplaincy)

About us 

The department of spiritual health care supports people of all faiths and beliefs, as well as people who do not have a particular allegiance but who would like someone to talk to. 

We provide a 24-hour, 7 days a week service that is confidential and open to our patients, relatives and staff. 

How you can access the service

Please ask your child's nurse to contact us, phone us on 020 7188 5588 or email us at chaplains@gstt.nhs.uk.

If you need to access the service urgently, please call the hospital switchboard on 020 7188 7188 and ask for the duty chaplain. There is always someone on call for help and advice.

What we provide

We have a chapel and a prayer room for all faiths nearby St Thomas' Hospital for quiet prayer and reflection. Patients and family members can use the prayer room. Our prayer room is normally locked, so please contact a chaplain if you would like to use it. It is also used by our staff so it is often busy.

Please let us know if you want any spiritual care resources, such as a bible, rosary, prayer mat, prayer cards or holy books. Shabbat provisions are available, please let us know what you need.

If your child is staying on one of our wards, a chaplain can bring Communion to you, or pray with you or listen to your concerns. We can arrange baptisms or blessings in hospital and would be pleased to discuss your wishes. Please contact the team, or ask your nurse to arrange a visit. 

You might find it helpful to register your faith/belief when you arrive at hospital with your child. This can be done at the same time you give your contact details.

Religious services 

Our chaplains offer personalised rites and rituals at the cotside or bedside for babies, children and their families, for Buddhists, Hindus, Humanists, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs, Anglicans, Catholics, Free Church and Pentecostals.

There is an Anglican communion at St Thomas' Chapel every Wednesday at 12.15pm.

Please contact the chaplaincy to arrange a personalised religious or spiritual visit. For other faiths and beliefs, please contact the chaplaincy and we will do our best to find someone.

We also offer regular bible studies, prayer meetings, memorial services and other services as requested by patients, carers and staff.

Training opportunities

Our chaplaincy offers a chaplaincy foundation course for those interested in chaplaincy volunteering; and for those interested in training to become chaplains, these courses are available:

  • Access to healthcare chaplaincy course
  • PgCert healthcare chaplaincy and wellbeing
  • PgDip healthcare chaplaincy and wellbeing
  • Masters in healthcare chaplaincy and wellbeing.

For further details please see the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust website or email nana.kyei-baffour@gstt.nhs.uk

Contacts

Tel: 020 7188 5588 / 020 7188 1187 (St Thomas' Chapel)

Email: 

To access the service urgently, please contact the hospital switchboard on 020 7188 7188 and ask for the duty chaplain.

How to find us

Prayer room
Ground floor, South Wing (near Central Hall)
St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH

Our prayer room is normally locked, so please contact a chaplain if you would like to use it. 

Washing facilities are next door.

St Thomas' Chapel
First floor, South Wing
St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH

From the ground floor, take the stairs in Central Hall (behind the statue of Queen Victoria), or the North Wing or South Wing staircase B lifts to the first floor.

Opening hours: 7am to 8pm. If you require access outside these hours, please contact our security team.