Four new multi-faith Chaplains will be welcomed to the NHS by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) at a special inauguration ceremony in the Council Chambers at County Hall today (27th October). This occasion marks a significant step in the Trust’s aim for wider representation within spiritual and pastoral care.

The new part-time Chaplains, who represent the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh faiths will join existing Christian colleagues to serve the spiritual and religious needs of patients, carers and staff within mental health and learning disability services and in local community hospitals.

One of LPT’s Lead Chaplains, Reverend Michael Forster explains the significance of the event.

“This occasion represents a milestone in our journey to provide the best quality spiritual and pastoral care to people of all religious faiths or of none. Leicester is richly diverse and we want to provide appropriate support to reflect and meet the spiritual needs of local people using our health services.

“Previously we’ve had to rely on volunteers to help with requests for spiritual and pastoral care from people of non-Christian faiths, and although there other faiths and traditions we would like to see represented in the future, the employment of these new Chaplains is certainly a step in the right direction.”

Guests at the inauguration will include people from local faith and community organisations and healthcare staff.

A short commissioning ceremony will be conducted for each new Chaplain by a local representative of their faith and the ceremony will close with the United Nations International Prayer for Peace.


Note to Editors

1. The Multi-faith Chaplains are:
Buddhist: Rev Susthama Marian Kim
Hindu: Pradip Gajjar
Muslim: Imam Fazlur Diwan
Sikh: Harjinder Singh