NHS: Budget

Lord Bishop of Liverpool Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, that work is ongoing and we have not yet reached any definitive conclusions.

[The Lord Bishop of Liverpool]

My Lords, I declare an interest in that the Church of England is a provider of sessional chaplains in the National Health Service. Given the importance of chaplains to the well-being and recovery of patients and given the value of their work with staff, especially those under stress, will the Minister encourage NHS trust hospitals to resist reducing those services?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, as I hope was apparent from our debate in the House the other day, the Government attach great importance to chaplaincy in the NHS. The kind of encouragement that the right reverend Prelate speaks of is something that I will consider. I need to be sure in my mind of how best to do that, but his point is well made and I will take it back to the department to see what we can do.