UK: une brochure pour les soignants et les patients catholiques pour expliquer leurs besoins et attentes : quelle est la spécificité d’une institution de soins catholique ?

Catholics in Healthcare today launched a major initiative to support those who work in healthcare by offering practical information on caring for Catholics and promoting the Catholic ethos of care. 

A website, www.catholicsinhealthcare.org.uk , is being launched along with a series of practical publications offering guidelines for healthworkers and NHS managers & trusts under the banner: Caring for the Catholic Patient. Both publications and website have received cross-party backing with support from the Secretary of State for Health and the Shadow Secretary. 

Catholics in Healthcare, backed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of & , is a voluntary group of Catholics in healthcare who come together to help witness to the Catholic approach to healthcare. The starting point for their work comes from the Church's teaching that Catholics working in healthcare or social care are an important part of Christ's healing ministry and mission. Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool and Chair of the Catholics in Healthcare Reference Group said: “The Church has a hugely important role in healthcare. We are not trying to teach the healthcare system what to do, nor are we looking for a privileged position. We are trying to show that Catholics have a natural affinity with healthcare, and make a strong and supportive contribution as we continue to work in collaboration with the healthcare system.

“In a healthcare system which (however well-intentioned) risks turning patients into units of care, while making the body an instrument to be treated, the Church witnesses to something more. We witness to the dignity of the whole person, loved and created by God as a spiritual and emotional, not just physical, being.” 

“This initiative is also about galvanising Catholics who work in healthcare, promoting our vision of care for the whole person and sharing in Christ’s healing ministry.” 
Almost 10% of the population of and is Catholic and demographic changes resulting from immigration means the Catholic population is changing and growing. Catholics in Healthcare, by working effectively with the NHS, is aiming to ensure these publications, the website and future activity will benefit all those who offer and receive healthcare in this country. 
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health said: “I am pleased that your work supports and fits with the ethos that the NHS provides a service that is responsive, personal to all and one that puts patients’ needs at its centre. 
“I read with interest the publications which provides a greater understanding of the role of not only Catholic chaplains but also hospital chaplaincy, in providing spiritual care for both patients and staff.”
Andrew Lansley, shadow secretary of state for health, said: “People admitted to hospital are often at their most vulnerable. At such a time, it is important to consider their spiritual and pastoral needs. NHS staff are well trained to integrate such considerations into their care pathway, and these publications will help them achieve that in respect to the particular needs of Catholic patients.” 

Catholics in Healthcare aim to: 
* Work with the Department of Health and NHS nationally and in each diocese to ensure that Catholic patients and healthcare workers are supported.
* Produce a series of practical publications for Catholics and for NHS workers. The first two: A Guide to Catholic Chaplaincy for NHS Managers & Trusts and Meeting the Pastoral Needs of Catholic Patients are already available for sale from the Catholic Truth Society. 
* Respond appropriately to the needs of Catholics (good practice guide on chaplaincy and guide on pastoral needs of catholic patients forthcoming, national and local work with health agencies) 
Provide Catholics working in health and social care with opportunities to share nationally and locally with each other (through website: www.catholicsinhealthcare.org.uk and national and local events) 
* Support those in healthcare chaplaincy (through good practice guidance and other resources as well as national liaison officers for chaplaincy and sources of advice to chaplains and Bishops' Advisers on Healthcare Chaplaincy) 

* Provide networking resources for Catholics (e.g. www.catholicsinhealthcare.org.uk)

* Hold annual seminar to support Catholics working in Healthcare
* Provide detailed work to explain the Church’s theology of healthcare and provide resources for the Church. 

Over the next year there will be a series of regional events to support healthworkers and roll out the publications across the country, along with other seminars and events leading to a major healthcare conference in 2008.