Combatting loneliness What can churches do to reduce loneliness and improve health in our rural communities?? “Loneliness is as bad for one’s health as smoking...” Jeremy Hunt, October 2015

Churches have Presence in most local communities Values that include pastoral care, prayer, friendship, hope and purpose for living, healing and health. Volunteers (DBS checked) willing to support people at times of crisis, and opportunities for volunteering. Health professionals who are accountable and work to their professional code of practice January

Since 2004, UK churches of all denominations have begun to recognise the potential of the health professionals in their congregations and have commenced health outreach programmes, complementing the work of the NHS and other voluntary agencies. This is known as “Parish Nursing” “Parish”...meaning the local community “Nursing”...meaning the coordination of health promoting activities and advice, rather than dressings and injections. January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk 3

Why nursing? Health ministry can actually be led by any currently registered health professional following their code of practice Nurses are often trusted with private personal information. Nurses have some knowledge of health, disease process and medication across all age-groups. Nurses have a coordinating role in health care, bringing in others as need is identified. There are 600,000 currently registered nurses and around 10 % of them are likely to be in our congregations. January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk 4

November 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk 5 The practice of Parish Nursing includes care that supports physical and psychological functioning, protection against harm, the family as a unit, effective use of the health care system, the health of the congregation and community, lifestyle change, with particular emphasis on coping with difficult circumstances and spiritual care. All this is dependent on the parish nurse (or health professional) being able to effectively mobilize volunteers in the congregation to support this model of health ministry. Ann Solari-Twadell, November 2013

What do Parish nurses do? January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk Make Home visits Offer “Clinic” sessions at church Advice for personal health Health education with community groups Support independent living Help to reduce hospital admissions and re- admissions Pray with people if they would like that Make referrals and signpost people to appropriate resources Train and Coordinate volunteers Promote healthy eating and exercise Make links with with GP surgeries, voluntary agencies, and other health providers Encourage better use of the health services

Parish Nursing Ministries UK is an infrastructure charity set up in 2006 to promote, develop and resource the ministry of parish nursing We offer advice for churches wishing to commence a project, the initial one week training for registered nurses and allied health professionals, quality assurance standards, and continuing professional development. So far, this is where we are January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk 7

Anglican Baptist Methodist Catholic Church of Scotland Independent Pentecostal Salvation Army Church in Wales Local Ecumenical Current Projects

What are people saying? Church goer in rural Cambridgeshire: “Our parish nurse has been here for everyone, in sickness, health, death. Any issue you’d like to name, be it trouble, strife, changing people’s lives, our Parish Nurse has made such a difference”

What are people saying? GP Surgery: “We have very much appreciated the work of our Parish nurse. She has become a source of comfort and support to some of our most vulnerable patients and her combination of care, competence and humanity have been of immense value to patients at some of the hardest times in their lives”

What are people saying? Service user: “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to our parish nurse, who supported me immensely when I had to face up to a potentially life-threatening situation...she was always willing to answer questions and she always ended a visit by taking out her special parish nursing prayer book and adapting a prayer specially for me. These were very special moments.”

How can more churches commence health ministry? By gathering an interested group of people from local churches and parish councils and connecting with GP surgeries to identify local need By identifying health professionals in their congregations who are willing to offer a few hours a week in this ministry By covering the cost of training and professional support, (around £1000 for set up and then £500 per year) January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk

Help is available Grants can be accessed through local trusts, denominations, and the Cinnamon network. Parish Nursing Ministries UK can provide a representative to meet with the church council or PCC to explore the idea further. Parish nurses or Parish health professionals that have completed the introductory training have access to all the resources, ideas, professional networking and policies for practice available through PNMUK, and support through a Regional coordinator. January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk

What can you do? Introduce us to nurses/ministers in your churches, friends or family Talking about this to people who you think might wish to support us financially, so that we can move towards our vision of access to a parish nurse for all who so choose. Become a friend of parish nursing...leaflets available here Contact us through our website for more information about how to start a local parish nurse project January 2013www.parishnursing.org.uk 14

Parish nursing supporting people and communities towards whole-person health through the local church.