Patient feedback

Patients often comment on how helpful it is to speak to someone who is not involved in their daily, or personal, situations.

This objectivity is highly valued.

Over the years we have received very positive feedback from those who made use of the chaplaincy service.

The overriding observation is summed up by one patient's comment.

"I greatly appreciate my surgery can offer this"

Feedback comments have fallen into four main sections:

Beneficial impact of the quality of interaction with the chaplain:

"having someone like ... to listen to all that was giving me stress"

"being able to speak freely"

"it's just so good to talk"

How the patient valued the personal qualities of the chaplain:

"being able to talk to someone objective"

"listening... without judgement"

"someone who is so supportive of my feelings"

Practicalities of the service:

"time and space to reflect"

"comfortable atmosphere" - reflecting the non-clinical surroundings of the chaplaincy room within the surgery.

Actual outcomes / improvements after attending the chaplaincy service:

"I actually feel I've been able to move on"

"encouraging gently with a course of action"