Chaplain jobs axe slammed; HOSPITALS: Archbishop joins row.

Byline: By Mail Reporter

ARCHBISHOP of Birmingham The Most Rev Vincent Nichols today condemned health chiefs today over plans to axe all but one of their hospital chaplains.

Archbishop Nichols called on Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to reverse its proposals to make six of its seven chaplains redundant.

The health trust's intentions, affecting three Catholic chaplains, were revealed in early August by the Amicus trade union, which claimed they would leave terminally-ill patients at hospitals in Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch without spiritual support.

Archbishop Nichols is working closely with the Anglican Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Peter Selby, to convince the trust to reverse its decision.

In a letter to John Rostill, the chief executive of the trust, the archbishop states: "For Catholics, access to the ministry of the Church, and in particular the sacraments, is an essential part of life.

"Despite a welcome growth in co-operation there are specific religious boundaries, which in the end entail that some faith communities can only be ministered to by those of their own faith. I am writing to express my concerns at the recent decision of your board to make all but one of your chaplains redundant, including three Catholic chaplains."

Amicus claims that the plans to save money will leave bereaved relatives and patients without religious support and is representing the College of Health Care Chaplains.

Speaking in August, Mr Rostill said cuts had to be made in order to fulfil the trust's primary duty of providing high quality, effective clinical care to its patients.

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ARCHBISHOP NICHOLS.