Chaplains are here to offer spiritual, pastoral and religious support for the hospital community. We are here for patients,  families and friends; and for staff. We will always be respectful of your beliefs, and we promise to be sensitive to your needs.

Who we are

We are a team of people, both male and female, of various faiths and denominations. Some of us are employed by the Trust; some of us are volunteers. Some of us are ordained priests, deacons or ministers of our respective chuurches. Some of us are lay-people.

We work to promote the spiritual well-being of everyone in hospital.

We abide by proper professional standards and strict rules about confidentiality.

Our staff

Full time; Revd Kevin Tromans (Senior Chaplain). Revd Catherine Minor

Part-time: Revd Jurgen Muller, Mrs Patsy Ottewell,   Revd Tom Gibbons,    Father Paul Tully

Honorary;  Revd Elizabeth Cummings, Revd Canon Penny Martin,  Revd Dorothy Wilson.

Across the Trust we are supported by some 24 chaplaincy volunteers. Occasionally we will have student chaplains on placement with us.

What we do

We offer pastoiral and emotional support and spiritual care through friendship and a listening ear. We will try to help in whatever way we can.  We visit wards and departments regularly.

We will be pleased to respond to requests for sacramental support and other religious services.

We can arrange for any religious needs to be met.

With a patient's permission we can contact a patient's own church leader or faith representative in the community so they too can offer support either in hospital or on returning home.

We offer;

• Someone to talk to in confidence
• Personal and pastoral care
• Religious and sacramental support
• Places and literature for prayer and reflection
• A link with local faith communities

Where we are

We work as a team across the Trust and have a presence at each of its hospitals, visiting the wards on a regular basis.

We have various facilities for prayer and worship in our hospitals and all of our patients and their families are welcome to share them.

Our places for prayer and opportunities to worship:

At Bishop Auckland Hospital

The Chapel/ Prayer Room is on the main corridor of the ground floor.

At present there are no regular services in the chapel/prayer room, but we are planning to introduce these in the near future.

At Darlington Memorial Hospital

The Mary Hodgkin Memorial Chapel is on the ground floor.

Chapel Services:

Sunday, 11 am, Sunday Service (usually Holy Communion)
Thursday, 10.30 am, Holy Mass.

Volunteers are available to take patients along to the services in wheelchairs.

There is also a small Prayer Room on level 1 of the main ward block.

At University Hospital North Durham

The Chapel is on floor 1, near ward 5.

Chapel services

Sunday, 11.15am, Holy Communion.
Saturday 10am, Holy Mass.

The Prayer Room is on the East Wing Corridor.

Dhuhr - Muslim Midday Prayers - 1.30pm, daily. Friday Prayers at 1.30pm

How to get in touch

You can 'phone the chaplains

• at Bishop Auckland Hospital: 01388 455451.
• at Darlington Memorial Hospital: 01325 743029.
• at University Hospital of North Durham, Shotley Bridge and Chester-le-Street Hospitals: 0191 3332333.

Or our ward staff will be pleased to contact a chaplain for you.

Out of hours or urgently

There is always a chaplain available for urgent calls, 24 hours a day, who can be contacted through the hospital switchboard.

Documents