Profile of Chaplaincy to the Taranaki Hospital
of the Taranaki District DHB
The Taranaki District Health Board
The Taranaki District Health Board is a progressive publicly-funded health organisation. It is responsible for funding and providing services for the people in the Central West Coast area of the North Island.
Hospital and Services
Health care is provided through Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth and the Hawera Hospital in South Taranaki. The base hospital at New Plymouth has 210 beds (14,000 admissions p.a. 18 % Maori) and the Hawera hospital has 21 beds (1,600 admissions p.a. 22% Maori), providing a range of second tier medical services for people in the central West Coast area of the North Island. Although the population of the Taranaki region is declining redevelopment of the Base Hospital is underway. The Taranaki hospitals are supported by the specialist regional tertiary hospital in Hamilton. In addition, Health Waikato extends speciality services to other health providers beyond its own region to a total population of 700,000 as far as Tairawhiti in the east. It is a diverse population including relatively large Maori and rural communities.
Chaplaincy Services
The Chaplaincy Team is the full-time Chaplain and a half time Catholic Chaplain supported by a strong team of around 20 volunteer part-time Chaplaincy Assistants.
On its website the Taranaki DHB advertises its Chaplaincy Service as follows:
The Taranaki Base Hospital Chapel is situated on Level 2 near Orthotics. The Chaplaincy service contributes to the health and welfare of patients, family members and staff by providing pastoral and spiritual care. A chaplain is available 24-hours-a-day and may be contacted via the operator.
The chaplains at Base Hospital are supported by a team of volunteers chaplaincy assistants.
An Ecumenical Service with communion is held in the hospital chapel every Sunday at 11.15am. There is a Catholic Mass on the first Saturday of the month.
Prayer, Holy Communion, Anointing and Baptism (in emergency) are available on request.
Chaplaincy Committee
The Taranaki Ecumenical Chaplaincy Committee Inc, the local support provider for ICHC, is made up of representatives of the local churches and hospital management. The Committee oversees and administers the chaplaincy service across the two Hospitals, raises funds and supports the chaplains and 20 volunteer chaplaincy assistants. It also administers the ICHC personnel policies and procedures.