Chaplains at Peterborough City Hospital use YouTube and Skype to support patients during coronavirus pandemic

Chaplains at Peterborough City Hospital are finding new ways of interacting with patients, staff and visitors during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Before the pandemic the chaplaincy team would visit wards, speak to patients and their families to listen, support and offer pastoral, spiritual and religious care, with regular services being held across the week.

But they've had to find different ways of working at the chapels at Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals - including email, phone calls, YouTube, Skype and limited visits to wards using the appropriate PPE.

Rev Julia Chamberlin, Anglican Chaplain at Hinchingbrooke Hospital - who has lost her own father during the Covid-19 pandemic - said: “We have had to find new and innovative ways of providing support to all.

"Patients are not allowed visitors at the moment, except in exceptional circumstances, so we are trying to reduce the isolation and fear that they may have and be the link between the family and the patient.

"Staff also have worries too, so we are there for them in these challenging times. It is certainly a different way of working, but we are adapting and assisting where we can.”

Adapting to these new measures has come with some difficulties as PPE has impeded interaction with patients. Chaplains are now more aware of the need to slow themselves in conversation and focus on how clear their words are to help with communication.