Providing Spiritual Care to United Church patients in health facilities in Regina

Rev Lorna King is the chaplain for the Regina area hospitals, and serves not only United Church members, but any patient or loved one who needs spiritual care. The United Church respects all spiritual and secular paths, and honours gender and sexual diversity. It is also open to support and care related to abortion and other reproductive health services, and to Medical Assistance in Dying. We welcome your support for the two chaplaincies, which receive no government funds. Please consider donating here through Canada Helps, and if you know of people in need of spiritual care or conversation, please let them know about the resources we offer, and check the contact number below. 

Rev Lorna writes,

COVID continues to impact the health facilities in Regina. Infection rates remain high, as well as hospitalization rates, and admissions to Intensive Care Units. There also seem to be some serious, long-lasting upper respiratory illnesses that are not COVID, which make it more difficult to get appointments with doctors or clinics. Which means Emergency units are full to overflowing a lot of the time.

In Regina, the health care system does not provide lists of patients who have declared their religious/spiritual connections – even if someone has asked you a question about that during admission! So, the only way I know that someone would like me to provide Spiritual Care is if someone contacts me.

Contacts could be:
The patient calling.
A family member calling.
A minister or pastoral care person from the congregation calling.
A nurse or social worker calling for you.

The poster pictured here is posted all over the facilities in Regina – by the public elevators, near the cafeteria, somewhere in each unit of the hospital.

My work cell phone is there (306) 551-7755.

I provided care to one patient who saw the poster and went to the payphone on their floor to call and leave a message for me to visit. Many of the referrals come from family or friends or church family. I wear a clergy collar when I am in facilities – it’s my signal to staff about what role I’m playing. It has also been a signal to patients and residents – I have been approached by people who saw the collar and wanted someone they could talk to about what was happening in their lives.

So, spread the word, help family and friends and neighbours to know that I am available to provide emotional and spiritual support in times of illness and recovery, in times when doctors give life-changing news, in times when treatment decisions need to be made.
Chaplain Lorna King, Regina United Church Hospital Chaplain 1(306) 551-7755