Helping to ease pain and suffering

Being able to offer the support of our Pastoral Services team to patients and their families is something that sets St John of God Subiaco Hospital apart from others in Perth.

4 Sep 2018

4 September 2018

Many people don’t know that when women experience pregnancy loss, in addition to offering emotional support the Pastoral Services team give them a small gift like a teddy bear or a handmade heart cushion.

The team also supports family members when a patient is terminally ill or in their final hours.

A personalised card and/or bookmark is sent to the family along with an offer for the team to call them for support in the following days.

Patients and family members say the presence of pastoral practitioners is helpful as it allows them to put into words their fears and feelings and start a conversation with their family.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Manager Pastoral Services Suranga Amaratunga says pastoral practitioners often act as witnesses to families pain and suffering which helps them to find meaningful ways of integrating their grief into everyday life and to not lose hope in what matters to them.

“As we have the opportunity to support patients and their families emotionally and spiritually, they too enrich our own lives and become ‘teachers’ of life along the way,” Suranga says.

Patients also have the opportunity to attend an Ecumenical Memorial Service at our chapel to honour the memories of their loved one.