Spiritual Care
Spiritual care includes care for the whole person – body, mind and spirit, and honours the human spirit and cares for each individual as a spiritual person. Spiritual care is about what gives meaning to our lives and includes love, hope, forgiveness and all kinds of emotional strength. Some people may find their source of meaning in a higher being like God, while many others derive their spiritual nourishment from the natural world, the arts, family and friends, hobbies and more. But for all of us, facing or being alongside a life-limiting illness can be daunting, raise questions and arouse emotions.
Who provides spiritual care at St Margaret’s?
Spiritual care at St Margaret’s is an integral part of the holistic palliative care provided by all members of our clinical teams supporting patients at home, in our Sunflower Centres, and on our In-Patient Unit, with specialist help provided by our Spiritual Care Support Team. The Spiritual Care Support Team works closely alongside our doctors, nurses and therapists.
Spiritual care for people of faith/followers of spiritual pathways
We endeavor to provide spiritual support for members of all religious faiths and beliefs, either through the ministry of the Spiritual Care Support Team or through liaising with leaders and members of other faiths/spiritual communities. With the agreement of individual patients or families, faith leaders are welcome on the In-Patient Unit to minister to patients known to them.
Prayer, Holy Communion and other Sacraments of the Christian Church are all readily available. Special services can be arranged including Blessings, Marriage by Superintendent Registrar’s Licence, Baptism and Confirmation. The Spiritual Care Coordinator can be available to conduct.
Spiritual care for staff and volunteers
The Spiritual Care Team is available to support all members of staff and volunteers at St Margaret’s. Please contact the Spiritual Care Coordinator in the first instance.
Our Sanctuaries
The Sanctuaries in our Taunton and Yeovil hospices are neutral spiritual spaces open to all, offering a place to draw apart and be still. Both rooms have small multi-faith symbols discreetly available to those who wish to use them for prayer and worship.
Donate in Memory
Celebrate the life of a loved one by making a donation in their memory and helping others receive compassionate care when they need it most.
Love Hearts
At difficult and uncertain times, we encourage patients and family members to consider whether they might each choose from home some small symbol of connection which can act as a comfort and a bond through separation – wherever they are.
As another example of this at St Margaret’s is offering our patients and family members a pair of small ‘love hearts’. These hearts offer an emotional link between family and friends of a loved one. Knitted by volunteers and staff the hearts are soft, can be cuddled and held close, and can be a reminder of shared love and affection. They are suitable to accompany a person who has died.
Our love hearts are kindly made by volunteers. We are not able to make hearts to order; however, if you do have a colour that means a lot to you, we will try and match this with the hearts we have in stock. Please go to the bottom of this page to order via our form.
Love Hearts Order
Donate Now
To order your pair of hearts, please complete the form above. There is no charge for the hearts, however if you would like to, you can make a donation.