Religions and Cultures

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Religions and Cultures in Grampian - a pratical guide for health and social care staff to the diversity of beliefs, custopms and cultures of the people of Grampian (Revised 2010)

NHS Grampian is committed to providing holistic healthcare, which is responsive to the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of its patients.  Appropriate spiritual, pastoral and religious care will be offered to patients, their relatives and carers and to staff. This care is available to people with or without specified religious beliefs.

NHS Grampian Spiritual Care Policy

In Our National Health, a Plan for Action, a Plan for Change, the Scottish Executive committed to developing a patient centred approach to care. The White Paper, Partnership for Care committed us to ?extending the principles set out in Fair for All to ensure that our health services recognise and respond sensitively to the individual needs, background and circumstances of people?s lives?. More recently government documents Delivering Care, Enabling Health (Scottish Executive 2006) and Better health, Better Care (Scottish Government 2007) have emphasised the development of a patient focussed service which both improves care and upholds the rights of individuals.

An important element of this approach is the provision of appropriate spiritual support to patients, their families and the staff who care for them as required by HDL (2002) 76, Spiritual Care in NHS Scotland.  This initiative led to the creation of the NHS Grampian Spiritual Care Policy and the Spiritual Care Committee, based on the principle of ?respect for the wide ranging beliefs, lifestyle and cultural backgrounds of the population served by NHS Grampian.?

The purpose of this Guide is to help healthcare staff to improve their knowledge of providing for the religious and cultural needs of those in their care.  Some basic information is provided about the major faith and cultural groups present in Grampian. However this information is a general guide only. Staff should always check everything with the patient or their relatives. If in doubt, ask them for advice.  Sensitivity and some basic knowledge of the beliefs, customs and practices of religious and cultural groups will lead to better patient care and can bring a great deal of comfort to the patients and the families involved.

The work of producing this guide was done by a small working group of the NHS Grampian Spiritual Care Committee.  The group drew on a number of previously published guides from other parts of Scotland and the text of each section has been checked where possible with the faith group concerned.

Practising health care in the realms of different faiths and cultures should be looked at as a stimulating challenge to healthcare rather than an additional problem. Staff awareness, good communication and some basic knowledge is the key.