BEFORE MAJOR SURGERY AT HOSPITAL
If you would like the Sacrament of Reconciliation or the Sacrament of the Sick before major surgery, try to arrange with your local Priest to celebrate them before you enter hospital.
The Sacrament of the Sick is no longer known as “The Last Rites”, and the anointing now emphasises God’s power to heal. It is offered regularly to those who have a lengthy illness. It is normal to celebrate it before major surgery.
When you leave hospital, ask your Priest to arrange for you to receive Holy Communion while you are convalescing.
IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER ARE IN WEXHAM PARK HOSPITAL:
If you would like someone from the Chaplaincy team to visit you, or a relative, at Wexham Park Hospital call 01753 633660 between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm and leave a message. Give them your name, date of admission and Ward number.
Alternatively, complete the back of the leaflet ‘Going into Wexham Park Hospital’. Forms are located in the Church porches. Post it to the address below or place it in the box at the back of St Luke’s Chapel, on the main corridor just behind the hospital’s main entrance reception (between the pharmacy and staff canteen) and is clearly signposted.
Send the completed form to: Rev Michael Ossei-Williams, Chaplaincy Department, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, SL2 4HL. Because of the Data Protection Act, they cannot visit you until you have given permission. You must take responsiblity for this. You cannot rely on the Ward staff to pass on a message.
Also see: Frimley Health Foundation Trust (Wexham Park) – Chaplaincy N.B. Select the Wexham Park and Heatherwood tab.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AT WEXHAM PARK:
If you need to contact a Priest in an emergency for yourself or a relative: Please ask a nurse on duty to ring switchboard and contact the Catholic Priest on duty. Ring the Wexham Park Hospital switchboard on 01753 633000 and ask them to contact the Catholic Priest on duty. The Priest who is on call will respond immediately, if he is unavailable, the hospital will ring other Priests.
Priests who are called to the hospital go very willingly, but please try to anticipate events so that you are not getting a Priest out of bed at night, make contact during the day if you can. However, if a Priest is needed unexpectedly during the night, do not wait until a reasonable time in the morning to ring, it may be too late then.
THE ART OF DYING WELL
There are prayer cards now available which we have received from the Catholic Trust for England & Wales, entitled The Art of Dying Well, and a new website that they have launched offering help and support to those grappling with issues around the meaning of dying and death. Please take home one of the Prayer cards.
Our Lady of Peace 