Chaplaincy, Spiritual & Pastoral Care - WHTH

@ov_watford We love and appreciate the impactful work you and your amazing Team at One Vision are doing.

It was a real privilege to spend time recently with two outstanding leaders at Watford General Hospital, whose work powerfully reflects compassionate, inclusive, and person-centred care within the NHS. Revd. Christian Damanka, MA, PGCert HCC,EDSML, BA,DTLLS,FCMI, MSET , Spiritual and Pastoral Care Lead at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, plays a vital role in supporting patients, families, and staff at some of life’s most challenging moments. His calm presence, cultural intelligence, and deep respect for people of all faiths and none remind us that wellbeing is holistic, extending far beyond clinical treatment. Spiritual and pastoral care is an essential pillar of dignity, compassion, and healing, and Christian leads this with humility and integrity. Alongside this, it was equally encouraging to engage with Andrea Hone, Carers Lead Nurse and Deputy to the Patient Experience Lead Nurse at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Andrea is a tireless advocate for unpaid carers, and her leadership of the Caring for Carers Service ensures carers are recognised, supported, and treated as equal partners in care. The clarity, compassion, and evidence-based approach she brings to this work is genuinely inspiring. Together, their roles reinforce something we strongly believe in at One Vision: that patient experience, carers’ voices, and spiritual and pastoral care are not “add-ons”, but central to high-quality, integrated healthcare. I look forward to strengthening partnership working between hospital services, community organisations, and faith networks, turning shared values into practical impact for carers, patients, and staff across Hertfordshire. Thank you both for your leadership and commitment. #NHS #SpiritualCare #PastoralCare #Carers #PatientExperience #IntegratedCare #PartnershipWorking #FaithAndHealth #WatfordGeneralHospital #Hertfordshire @WestHertsNHS

Wishing You all a Peaceful Festive Season full of Love, Joy & Hope

Happy Diwali to all our colleagues who are celebrating! Diwali starts on Monday 20 October and runs throughout October. We wish our staff joy & happiness during this festival of light. May this festival bring new beginnings and triumph good over evil & light over darkness.

Today is World Humanist Day – celebrating critical thinking, ethical living, and human welfare. Warm wishes from the Chaplaincy Team Spiritual & Pastoral Care at West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust to all marking the day. Happy World Humanist Day!

Pentecost is a Christian celebration that takes place on the 50th day after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus Christ. May you be blessed by the Holy Spirit with love, peace, happiness, and good health as you celebrate Pentecost.

Eid al-Adha is a time of deep spiritual significance for Muslims. It is a reminder of our duty to serve others, remain devoted to Allah, and uphold the values of compassion and generosity. Wishing all our staff celebrating a blessed and joyful Eid. Eid Mubarak!

We recently relaunched of our staff Interfaith and Belief Network with a celebration of the Hindu festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami! The Interfaith & Belief Network aims to provide representation for all colleagues who hold religious and secular beliefs ⭐

The Interfaith & Belief network marked the Hindu festivals of #RakshaBandhan and #Janmashtami, celebrating love, protection, and the birth of Lord Krishna. A time for reflection, unity, and joy in our diverse community. 🕉️ #HinduFestival

The Chaplaincy Team visited the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Watford General Hospital, visiting & supporting staff, patients & families.❤️ Please get in touch, with our Spiritual & Pastoral Care Team/Interfaith & Belief Network, via the switchboard. #WestHertsChaplaincy

Wishing all our amazing #young #volunteers who are collecting their GCSE results today lots of luck! We know this is just the start of your journeys. Be proud of yourselves. #resultsday #nextgeneration #future

🖼️ Thank you @LouiseLoveday_ for donating a beautiful art piece to The Mendel Room! Open Every Mon - Fri, 1 - 2 pm for Private Prayer, Reflection, Meditation, and Quiet Space.🌿 Tuesday 11 AM for Holy Mass.† 📍 Watford General, Admin block, ground floor #WestHertsChaplaincy

† Celebration of Holy Mass 💫 Thank you to our Catholic Chaplain Fr Dido, who led Mass this week. 
Celebration of Holy Mass will take place every week, Colleagues of all faiths or none are all welcome. 📍Watford General, Mendel room 🕚Tuesday at 11 am #WestHertsChaplaincy

Happy Asalha Puja Day to all our friends and colleagues @WestHertsNHS 🌸 Today we celebrate the Buddha's first sermon and the founding of the Sangha. May this day bring wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment to all. #Buddhism #WestHertsChaplaincy

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Alan Brereton, a dedicated volunteer at Watford General Hospital. Alan joined in 2021 and inspired many with his dedication and spirit despite his own health challenges. He will be deeply missed. Fly high, Alan. 💙 RIP

Our Corporate Nursing Workforce team have been shortlisted in the @NursingTimes Awards! ⭐  The team introduced self-rostering to aid colleagues with flexible working, give them more input into their shift rota and improve work-life balance.   Well done team! 🤩  #NTAwards