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News & Media

Media Release

Date: 23 February 2018

New Spiritual Care Centre opens

A new Spiritual Care Centre – a space for prayer and reflection – has opened at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

The purpose-built centre replaces the former Chapel and will offer 24-hour access for people of all faiths or none, providing room for anyone to come and sit, to talk, reflect, pray or simply gather their thoughts.

Ablution and prayer spaces are available for those who need them, as well a quiet and private area for confidential and sensitive conversations. There's also a peaceful courtyard garden with planting, seating and sculpture, created thanks to a generous gift left in the will of a local Bath man to the Forever Friends Appeal.

RUH Lead Chaplain Narinder Tegally said: "It is a real privilege and exciting to be in this new space. It's important that a large hospital like the RUH has such a centre for people who may be experiencing strong emotions and difficult or joyful personal times. We're looking forward to working here and providing religious and spiritual care to people with diverse needs from all backgrounds, cultures, all faiths and none. It's a place where we can offer support not just to patients, but to relatives, carers and staff as well."

The new building, which was designed in conjunction with members of different faiths, is located on the crossroads of Zone C & D on the hospital ground floor. It is part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust's 'Fit for the Future' development plan to transform the site and further improve services for patients.

A dedication service will be held in April, and 'Open House' events for members of the public and hospital staff to visit and look around the centre are being held on:

  • Monday 12 March 10.30am-12 noon
  • Wednesday 14 March 2-4pm
  • Thursday 15 March 6.30-8.30pm

For more information on events and the daily programme at the Spiritual Care Centre, please visit our website or email: narinder.tegally@nhs.net

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

  • The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.
  • The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.
  • In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.
  • The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust is now working towards building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future

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