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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Church 'must fund NHS chaplains' | Church 'must fund NHS chaplains' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Religious groups should fund their own presence in UK hospitals and save the NHS some £40m per year, the National Secular Society suggests. | |
| The organisation of non-believers says such money would be better spent on "much needed" nurses or cleaners. | The organisation of non-believers says such money would be better spent on "much needed" nurses or cleaners. |
| The NSS claims even organ players in hospital chapels are on NHS payrolls. | The NSS claims even organ players in hospital chapels are on NHS payrolls. |
| NHS guidance notes all patients have a right to religious observance and that trusts should provide both faith representatives and places to pray. | NHS guidance notes all patients have a right to religious observance and that trusts should provide both faith representatives and places to pray. |
| The NSS made its calculations after contacting 233 acute and mental health trusts across the UK. | The NSS made its calculations after contacting 233 acute and mental health trusts across the UK. |
| The figures it received showed these trusts overall spent £26.72m, with the average chaplain costing £48,953. | The figures it received showed these trusts overall spent £26.72m, with the average chaplain costing £48,953. |
| Extrapolating these figures for the NHS across the UK produced the sum of £32m, but this figure "only takes into account the salaries of the chaplains", said Terry Sanderson, president of the NSS. | Extrapolating these figures for the NHS across the UK produced the sum of £32m, but this figure "only takes into account the salaries of the chaplains", said Terry Sanderson, president of the NSS. |
| "It doesn't take account of national insurance contributions, pension payments, administration costs, office accommodation, training, the upkeep of chapels and prayer rooms," he said. "We can conservatively add another 20% to the headline figure taking it up to £40m." | "It doesn't take account of national insurance contributions, pension payments, administration costs, office accommodation, training, the upkeep of chapels and prayer rooms," he said. "We can conservatively add another 20% to the headline figure taking it up to £40m." |
| Organ fee | Organ fee |
| The role of NHS chaplains - who come from a range of faiths and denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim - ranges from visiting the sick, to administering sacraments and advising on ethical dilemmas. | The role of NHS chaplains - who come from a range of faiths and denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim - ranges from visiting the sick, to administering sacraments and advising on ethical dilemmas. |
| They are also expected to help staff and relatives cope with death and serious illness. | They are also expected to help staff and relatives cope with death and serious illness. |
| NHS Trusts pay for chaplaincies because they see them as part of their duty of care to patients, not because the churches force them to Church of England spokesman | NHS Trusts pay for chaplaincies because they see them as part of their duty of care to patients, not because the churches force them to Church of England spokesman |
| But these services, the NSS contends, are part of the Church's own "fundamental responsibility", and as such should be paid for out of its own pocket. | But these services, the NSS contends, are part of the Church's own "fundamental responsibility", and as such should be paid for out of its own pocket. |
| "Most people who go into a hospital come from the local area and it would be better if their own vicar, priest, rabbi or imam came to see them if they felt in need of religious support. This could be done as part of the clergypersons' regular duties - it should not fall as a burden on the NHS," Mr Sanderson said. | "Most people who go into a hospital come from the local area and it would be better if their own vicar, priest, rabbi or imam came to see them if they felt in need of religious support. This could be done as part of the clergypersons' regular duties - it should not fall as a burden on the NHS," Mr Sanderson said. |
| He added that in some cases organists were on the payroll to play in chapels and in other instances Catholic priests delivering last rites charge the hospital a "call-out" fee. | He added that in some cases organists were on the payroll to play in chapels and in other instances Catholic priests delivering last rites charge the hospital a "call-out" fee. |
| The organisation said it was asking the Department of Health to conduct more thorough research into the extent to which these services were used by patients, and how appreciated they were. | The organisation said it was asking the Department of Health to conduct more thorough research into the extent to which these services were used by patients, and how appreciated they were. |
| Places to pray | Places to pray |
| A spokesperson for the Department of Health said it was "committed to the principle of ensuring that NHS patients have access to the spiritual care that they want, whatever faith or belief system they follow. | A spokesperson for the Department of Health said it was "committed to the principle of ensuring that NHS patients have access to the spiritual care that they want, whatever faith or belief system they follow. |
| "Chaplains do an extremely demanding job, often in difficult circumstances, and their skill and dedication is highly valued by patients, relatives and staff within the health service." | "Chaplains do an extremely demanding job, often in difficult circumstances, and their skill and dedication is highly valued by patients, relatives and staff within the health service." |
| A spokesman for the Church of England said: "Spiritual healthcare has long been acknowledged, by both medical practitioners and the churches, to be an intrinsic part of caring for people in hospital. | A spokesman for the Church of England said: "Spiritual healthcare has long been acknowledged, by both medical practitioners and the churches, to be an intrinsic part of caring for people in hospital. |
| "NHS Trusts pay for chaplaincies because they see them as part of their duty of care to patients, not because the churches force them to." | "NHS Trusts pay for chaplaincies because they see them as part of their duty of care to patients, not because the churches force them to." |
| Are you an NHS chaplain or have used their services? Do you think the NHS should fund chaplains? Send us your views. | Are you an NHS chaplain or have used their services? Do you think the NHS should fund chaplains? Send us your views. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |