I am writing to express my anger and disappointment with the recent decision to terminate the hospital-based spiritual care co-ordinators within the Fraser Health region and especially at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

I believe this decision is short-sighted, will result in poorer health outcome for patients, and will damage the relationship between Fraser Health and the community it seeks to serve.

In the end, this decision will not save money as those patients who no longer will have the spiritual care and support that healing requires will be sicker longer, costing the system far more than it will save.

I find it incredible Fraser Health believes it can replace the services of these uniquely gifted and qualified professionals with that of social workers and volunteers.

Would you replace hospital administrators or any other of these various, specifically trained health care providers with social workers and volunteers?

Not only are social workers not trained in spiritual care issues, to the best of my knowledge, they are actively discouraged from bringing elements of spiritual life into their work. In addition, most social workers I know are already overwhelmed by their work and caseloads and it is simply not reasonable to expect them to be able to add this to their job description.

On its website, Fraser Health lists as one of the elements in its strategic plan, to “Create healthy communities through collaborative partnerships with municipalities and community agencies.” This decision flies in the face of this goal. We need, and look forward to, a reversal of this decision.

Dr. Warren Schatz

Pastor, Grace Church