Advocacy
Saskatoon’s ecumenical Advocacy Committee has been working to develop strategies for ensuring that spiritual care can continue in Saskatchewan hospitals even after the government’s decision to discontinue funding it.
The Committee is composed of representatives from Christian churches, as well as other world faiths. This group continues to devise ways to make both Government and the Health Authority aware of gaps in service to patients for Spiritual Care. A similar group has formed in Regina, and the Saskatoon group is in consultation with them.
Here is a copy of the information card that the Committee has prepared for distribution to patients in Saskatoon’s hospitals. The information found on the card is as follows:
Spiritual Care Services in Saskatoon Hospitals
Hospitalization can be a time of uncertainty and worry. Because personal faith plays an important part in coping with illness and recovery, local faith groups make every effort to provide an environment in which patients may practice their own faith traditions.
While in the hospital, patients have the right to practice their own personal faith beliefs or to practice no personal faith beliefs. Spiritual care personnel protect the rights and confidentiality of all patients regarding spiritual matters.
As of 2018, spiritual care is being provided by individual faith groups.
Spiritual care responds to the religious and spiritual care needs of patients, friends, and family members when they are:
• seeking sources of hope, meaning, comfort and strength
• wrestling with issues of forgiveness or unresolved conflict
• addressing a crisis of life or faith
• struggling with anger, despair, hopelessness or loneliness
• dealing with the fear of death or dying
Notifying Your Congregation
If you have a personal faith and belong to a local congregation or faith group, we encourage you to inform your spiritual leader or other faith representative about your admission to the hospital.
The leader of your faith tradition is welcomed and encouraged to visit you and conduct activities such as spiritual counselling and prayer.
If requested, there are full-time hospital chaplains who can help you connect with your own faith group.
Q & A about Spiritual Care Services Provided by Faith Groups:
Do I need spiritual care if I’m not religious?
You don’t need to be religious to benefit from spiritual care. A spiritual care provider can listen to your concerns and provide support.
Is spiritual care only for people who are dying?
No. Spiritual care is for anyone seeking personal growth or who needs help coping with change, illness or loss. Spiritual care providers are here to listen to you.
Is spiritual care only for patients?
No. Spiritual care is available for patients, friends and family members.
Has spiritual care been removed from Saskatoon hospitals?
Even though spiritual care is no longer being provided by hospital staff at Royal University Hospital and Saskatoon City Hospital, it is still available through the chaplains who are funded by their religious communities.
Spiritual care at St. Paul’s Hospital has not changed.
Faith Groups – Direct Contact
- Anglican Church of Canada – 306.261.9906
- Hindu – 306.227.1142
- Islam – 306.341.8888
- Lutheran – 306.229.1663
- Roman Catholic – 306.371.7125
- United Church of Canada – 306.227.8707
First Nations and Métis Health Centre:
- SPH – 306.655.0518
- RUH & SCH – 306.655.0166