A clergyman and his multi-faith team provide day-to-day “spiritual wellbeing” to inpatients at a hospital to complement their clinical care.

David Byrne is the lead chaplain at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow where he and his team of faithful volunteers listen and talk to patients as part of their healing process. 

David, who is 69, has been chaplain at the Trust for the last 18 years and often puts religion aside during his day-to-day work – in fact he doesn’t wear his clerical collar and cross unless he is asked.

His team of 20 volunteers see around 14 patients a day, including staff, to talk about anything they are worried about.

He said: “The two most important qualities of my work are compassion and listening.

“Clinical staff focus on patients’ physical condition; while we look after their spiritual wellbeing. There is room for both. 

“Most people want to talk when they are hurting inside and opening up is a healing process in itself.”

East End born David and his team may be called to speak to a range of people from the terminally ill, to a grieving mother, to staff struggling with problem. 

David recalled bringing together a brother and sister who had not spoken for 20 years, and fulfilling a bed-ridden father’s wish to see his daughter and son-in-law exchange wedding vows.

He also recalled a cancer patient who wanted to talk about a secret he had kept for over 50 years. 

The man had been a submariner in the navy during the Second World War and he picked up an enemy sub on his radar. In the absence of an officer he instinctively ordered British warships to intercept and watched in horror as all three were destroyed by German U-boats.

He hadn’t spoken of the event until he met David. “It must have been an awful burden to carry all those years. His wife was with us and he had never told her,” David said.

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust is one of the largest integrated healthcare trusts in the country, providing services to Harrow, Brent and Ealing.