'Spiritual' assessment condemned

An audit showed nurses were in favour of more "spiritual" training

A scheme in which new hospital patients have their "religious and spiritual care needs" assessed has been condemned by the National Secular Society.

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust said people would be asked whether they had "any faith needs that can be supported during their stay".

But the National Secular Society, which defends the rights of non-believers, said the move "misused NHS resources".

It said it sound as though hospital chaplains "were touting for business".

The trust said emotional and psychological care would also be provided and that patients did not have to be religious to receive help.

How on earth have we reached the stage that you can't even go to hospital for treatment without having religion foisted on you like this? Terry Sanderson National Secular Society president

As part of the new policy, which was launched on Monday, staff will also undergo "appropriate spiritual training" from chaplains.

Earlier, Rev Karen MacKinnon, deputy spiritual care manager, said an internal audit conducted in 2008 showed a large proportion of the trust's nurses "were in favour of more training in this area".

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "This sounds like the chaplains in the hospitals touting for business.

"It is a gross misuse of scarce National Health Service resources and an intrusion into the privacy of individuals who are coming to hospital for medical treatment.

"Nursing and medical staff are employed by the hospital to look after people's health, they shouldn't have to take on this burden, too.

"How on earth have we reached the stage that you can't even go to hospital for treatment without having religion foisted on you like this?"

The trust manages four hospitals in the city - Southampton General Hospital, the Royal South Hants Hospital, Princess Anne Hospital and Countess Mountbatten Hospital.