Chaplaincy Service
Coming into hospital can be unsettling and stressful. Patients, relatives and carers may find it helpful to have someone to talk to. The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Department consists of a multi faith team of chaplains and chaplaincy volunteers. The Chaplains are appointed by the Trust and are professionals from specific religious traditions, who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The support offered can be a listening ear, prayers, sacraments and rituals, dependent upon what is asked for. So often, what we most need is a compassionate person: a listening ear and sensitive support from someone who will not judge and who will maintain confidentiality.
The presence and support offered to patients, their loved ones and staff, is not limited to people who are religious. As a Chaplaincy and spiritual care team we see everyone as a unique individual. We will treat you with dignity and confidentiality, respectful of your age, gender, race, culture, disability, belief or sexuality. Every person is of value and should receive the best possible care.
Chaplains and chaplaincy volunteers regularly visit wards and chaplains can be called to visit individuals at any time. In an emergency please ask a member of staff to contact a chaplain. Roman Catholic, Church of England, Muslim chaplains and Free Church chaplains are on call at all times. Ministers of other faiths are available to patients on request.
Our chaplaincy team works as part of the overall healthcare team, seeking to create a calm and comforting environment in which individual needs can be recognised valued and safeguarded. Chaplains are often uniquely placed to relate to individuals in their ill health, to discern their needs and provide forms of pastoral care. The chaplaincy team can help nurture wellbeing, foster hope and support people through the transitions which accompany a period of ill health. This is not confined to emergency situations or moments of crisis, but also to meet ongoing pastoral, spiritual, religious and sacramental needs.
Whatever cultural, religious or spiritual beliefs you may have, you have the right to have these beliefs respected, as long as this is possible and does not impose excessively on the rights of others. Please let the nursing staff know what you need, and every effort will be made to arrange this for you.
Additional staff support
As well as the availability of pastoral care for any staff members there are additional services in the trust.
- About the team
Father Andrew Allman – Roman Catholic Chaplain
I was born in Blackpool and grew up on the Fylde. Having studied Maths at Lancaster University, I went to train for the priesthood at Ushaw College, Durham, and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2005. Since then I have worked in parishes in Lancaster, Blackpool and Barrow-in Furness, also acting as hospital chaplain in all three places. In January 2017 I came to Preston as Parish Priest of St Clare’s and Catholic Chaplain to the Royal Preston Hospital. In my spare time I enjoy music (including playing the piano very badly!) and have a keen interest in languages. Life as a priest is busy, varied, unpredictable and fulfilling. It brings me much joy to meet so many people and to do my best to others in the hospital and the local community.
Imam Khalid Ibrahim – Muslim Chaplain
Hello, My name is Khalid Ibrahim. I was born in Preston and did my early studies in Deepdale primary school and Quwwatul Islam Madrasah. After primary school I studied at the auspicious boarding seminary in Blackburn for 10 years and graduated in 2005. I have ever since been involved in the management team of the seminary and Quwwat Education Centre.
In addition to my current roles, I enjoy community and charity work which allows me to meet and explore new projects and activities. This includes working with the youth and special needs children and families.
I volunteered as a Muslim chaplain when the pandemic started in March 2020 and now working as a part time chaplaincy Imam across Lancashire teaching hospitals.
Imam Naeem Toorawa - Muslim Chaplain
Hi, my name is Naeem Toorawa, I was born and bred in Preston. I grew up in the Deepdale area (those were the good old days), attended Deepdale primary school and moved onto Moor Park High School. At the age of 13 I enrolled at the institute of Islamic Theology in West Yorkshire and studied there for a whole decade.
After graduating I became an Imam at Masjid e Quba mosque (New Hall Lane) and surprisingly have been there for over twenty years.
I love helping people hence I love my work as an Imam and Chaplain at LTHTR. I also love following the greatest team ever too; yes you guessed it, obviously Liverpool FC. I enjoy swimming and eating out too.
Martin McDonald – Lead Chaplain
I was born on the Wirral, married a lovely Lancashire lass called Tracey and eventually settled in Preston. Prior to training for ministry I worked as a nurse for 30 years with 18 of those years being here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, before being called to ordained Christian ministry. I have two children, Daisy and Tom, two cats and a few chickens. I am passionate about Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and its place in the local community. My heart is to minister to people who are lost, lonely, hurt or afraid whether they have a faith or not.
I love having time with my family. When I get some free time I enjoy cycling, walking, kayaking and generally being in nature. I dearly love what I do in my ministry work and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Reverend Simon Gilbertson - Chaplain
Hi I’m Simon, I’m a Roman Catholic Deacon, I love to listen to and learn from people of all backgrounds, at all stages of their life-journey. I’m a full-time chaplain, and I am also attached to St Chad’s Church near Chorley. I have worked at both CDH and RPH since 2005.
Before my ordination in 2004, I worked in a local museum for 14 years and I am still passionate about history. I am happily married, with three children.
We live on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, whose beauty gives him much spiritual inspiration. Other inspirations come from spending quality family time together, seeing life as a pilgrimage, and various kinds of music – especially the band ‘Runrig!’
Reverend Tom McKinlay - Chaplain
Hi, my name is Tom and I serve the Trust by sharing in the Chaplaincy Out of Hours Roster. I’m married to Ruth who retired a few years ago as a palliative care nurse specialist. We have 3 children, all of whom work for the NHS, one as a Unified Communications Manager (Jon), another as an ODP (Andy) and another as a Paramedic (Pete). We have 6 grandchildren and another on the way. Born in Glasgow, I was an engineer before training for ministry. The next thirty years were spent leading 5 Baptist Churches in various places. In 2010, I left the North-West to work in Mental Health and Acute Chaplaincy in London and the South-East. Heading towards retirement, I ended my paid working life as Chaplain in Halifax/Huddersfield. Although retired, I’m still busy engaging in various DIY projects at home and supporting the Trust Chaplaincy Department when I can. The famous artist, Michelangelo, commented on a painting crafted by one of his students. “Yes!” the great man exclaimed, “but wider.” When I began ministry way back in 1981, my views were very narrow and exclusive. Over time, I have learned to understand that everyone (even the atheist) has a spirituality and spiritual needs. It remains my joy to welcome all, accepting them where they are, seeking to be a companion and friend as they journey through whatever they face as a patient, relative or member of staff. If you expect me to convert you; stroll on. If you need someone to listen and help you to discover how to draw upon your own spiritual resources, you have my ear.
- What we do
Chaplains are available to patients, relatives and staff at any time to:
- Listen and talk to those of any faith and none
- Pray with or for people
- Meet sacramental needs, i.e. Communion, anointing, hearing Confession.
- Help individual place their illness in the context of their lives - to find consolation or meaning in pain, suffering and confusion
- Discuss their feelings, anxieties and fears and those of their family (both spoken and unspoken)
- Offer time and space for spiritual reflection – to bring out an individual’s own hidden strengths, which can lead to a sense of wholeness and inner healing
- Share people’s happiness as well as sadness
- Look forward to the future with hope
- Spiritual care to dying patients and their families, anointing, sacrament of the sick, prayer
- Spiritual care and support to the bereaved
- Religious or non-religious funerals
- Memorial services
- Access to and liaison with clergy of particular religious faiths or denominations as required
- Weekly prayers for patients and the hospital community
- Advocacy for patients as necessary
All chaplains can be contacted, through ward staff, via the Switchboard.
- Location and Opening Times
Both chapels are open 7 days a week 24 hours a day. You need staff ID access after 8pm to open the doors.
The Chaplains are also supported by a team of chaplaincy volunteers and can be contacted via switchboard 24 hours a day.
At the Royal Preston Hospital
The Hospital Chapel is situated on the ground floor on green street and is open throughout the day. There is a multi-faith prayer room located in the chapel, which is also open throughout the day. There is a Muslim prayer room with ablution facilities on the Green Street corridor next to the chapel.
At Chorley District Hospital
- Chapel Services
Everybody is welcome to attend any of these services – At present these are on hold due to the Covid 19 situation but we hope to restart services soon.
Muslim prayers (Jummah) are said every Friday in the prayer room at RPH and CDH
If you would like to receive Holy Communion on the ward please ask staff on duty to contact the relevant hospital chaplain.
