The European Network of Health
Care Chaplaincy (ENHCC) affirms that palliative care is an approach to care
that seeks the prevention and relief of suffering by means of identifying,
assessing and treating the physical, psychological, social and spiritual
needs of patients and their families. It is an approach that affirms life
and dying as a natural process, uses a team approach to address the needs of
patients and their families, will enhance quality of life and positively
influence the course of the illness. [World
Health Organisation definition of palliative care (2002)]
Palliative care is an essential part of health care, whether it be provided
in healthcare institutions or home settings.
Spiritual interventions in palliative care
Spiritual interventions include:
The Network’s Standards for Health Care
Chaplaincy in Europe acknowledge the organisational diversity in
chaplaincy services throughout Europe that includes administration,
regulations, policies, and chaplaincy associations. [ENHCC,
2002] It is clear that chaplaincy has a unique knowledge, skill and
resource in providing spiritual care that focuses on life, meaning,
suffering, dying and death, that can contribute positively to professional
palliative care.
Good practice for palliative care includes spiritual and religious care,
access to chaplaincy services, multidisciplinary team working, staff
support, education and training. The Association of Hospice and Palliative
Care Chaplains (UK) Standards for Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplaincy [AHPCC(2006)]
provide an example of best practice.
Chaplaincy and the multidisciplinary team
It is acknowledged that while many health care professionals can develop
skills in providing spiritual care, health care chaplains have a central
role and expertise that can contribute positively to the multidisciplinary
team.
The Network recommends that healthcare agencies and chaplaincies assure ways
of providing for the delivery of spiritual care in palliative care through
the inclusion of competent spiritual health care providers within the
multidisciplinary team and the development of clinical standards. [MCC
(2003), NHS QIS (2002)]
Declaration
This statement was agreed at the 9th Consultation of the European
Network of Health Care Chaplaincy, Lisbon, Portugal, 17th – 21st May 2006,
to be used as a tool by participants.
There were 52 Representatives present from 26 countries representing the
following 38 Churches, associations and organisations:
Austrian Roman Catholic Health Care Chaplains Association |
Association of Spiritual Caregivers in Health Care Institutions (VGVZ), The Netherlands |
Conference of Health Care Chaplaincy (AEKÖ) Protestant Church in Austria |
Association of Ministers in the Church of Norway |
Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium |
Comissão Nacional da Pastoral da Saúde (Portugal) |
Committee for Spiritual Care in Hospitals, Czech Council of Churches |
Transylvanian Reformed Church |
Charles University in Prague |
DCCSS Moscow Patriarchate |
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople |
Lutheran (Evangelical) Church (ECAV) and Evangelical Diaconia |
Danish Association of Chaplains in Healthcare (SYSAM) |
Pastoral Health Care Department, Episcopal Conference of Spain |
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia |
Church of Sweden |
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
Association of Health Care Chaplains in the Church of Sweden (SKAIS) |
Protestant Hospital Chaplaincy in France |
Free Churches Council of Sweden |
Aumônerie nationale des hôpitaux (France) |
Association of the Swiss Protestant German speaking Hospital Chaplains |
Conference of Health Care Chaplaincy of EKD (Germany) |
Association of Catholic Health Care Chaplains in German Speaking Switzerland |
Department of Pastoral Care of the German Catholic Bishop's Conference |
Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains (UK) |
Catholic Hospital Association in Germany (KKVD) |
College of Health Care Chaplains (CHCC) (UK) |
Metropolis of Thebes and Levadias (Orthodox Church of Greece) |
Free Churches Health Care Chaplaincy (England and Wales) |
Reformed Church, Hungary |
Healthcare Chaplaincy Training and Development (Scotland) |
Healthcare Chaplaincy Board of Ireland |
Scottish Association of Chaplains in Healthcare (SACH) |
Latvia Association of Professional Health Care Chaplaincy (LPVAKA) |
Scottish Churches Committee on Healthcare Chaplaincy |
Franciscan Capuchin Hospital Chaplaincy (Malta) |
Metropolitan Commission for Pastoral Health Care (Ukraine) |
Footnote:
The network commends the development of the Scottish Clinical Standards for
Palliative Care which recognise the chaplain as a core member of the
multidisciplinary team.
References:
AHPCC (2006) Standards for Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplaincy, 2nd
Edition, Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains, United
Kingdom.
www.ahpcc.org.uk
ENHCC (2002) Standards for Health Care Chaplaincy in Europe. European
Network of Health Care Chaplaincy. www.eurochaplains.org/turku_standards.htm
MCCC (2003) Spiritual and Religious Care Competencies for Specialist
Palliative Care, Marie Curie Cancer Care, London, United Kingdom, http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/forhealthcareprofessionals/
NHS QIS (2002) Clinical Standards Specialist Palliative Care, NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/SPC.pdf
WHO (2002) Definition of Palliative Care, World Health Organisation.
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