Tallaght Hospital Covid-19: The Faithful respond
Although the work of healthcare chaplains is generally face-to-face, “listening compassionately, connecting immediately and loving unconditionally”, the Director of Pastoral Care in Tallaght Hospital told The Irish Catholic they have updated how they connect with patients in light of the coronavirus crisis.
They will now be giving patients the option to speak to chaplains using live video charts online. Fr John Kelly said: “Like everyone else in the Hospital, Covid-19 has challenged how we do things. Wherever chaplains are, whether at the bedside or the other end of a video camera, it’s about the human connection. That’s what we are here for.
“Our hospital and its staff are known for their ability to rise to a challenge and thanks to support from ICT we now have a solution that will enable us to meet the challenge of providing for the spiritual needs of patients and staff in the midst of the pandemic.
“The Pastoral Care Service is now being delivered via the Zoom App, we will provide virtual visits to offer spiritual support. Zoom is an easy-to-use web-based video conferencing tool that can be accessed through a mobile phone or by email,” he added.
The ‘TUH Chat with a Chaplain’ service is now live. The pastoral care team remain on site providing a 24/7 service and the daily services in the Hospital Chapel will continue and are broadcast along with reflective music on the televisions throughout the wards.