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The Revd George Sarmezey, joined the hospital as its first assistant chaplain in July 1997 after working as an assistant priest in a Bristol parish for three years. He became senior chaplain three years later and has continued in that role ever since, supporting patients and staff through many difficult times including the years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Revd George said: “The Covid pandemic was the most challenging time. It was almost surreal during the first lock down when all ward visiting had to end. That meant the only time people were allowed to visit their relatives was at end of life.
“We helped with final visits and had to use all the appropriate personal protective equipment. We felt unprepared but were heartened by the way colleagues pulled together and how the public showed their support for the NHS, it showed that people really cared about what we were going through.”
Revd George has supported patients and staff in many different ways during his 28 years including improvements to the care and service provided to patients and staff. He said: “It is a great privilege to be there for people. They share their problems, sometimes they feel upset, anxious, or even guilty about something. Speaking to a chaplain enables them to unburden themselves, and, on the religious side, when you pray for some people it can give them comfort."
Service improvement achievements that Revd George has been involved in include the development of a bereavement suite at the hospital in 2008- 2009 which greatly improved the way people were supported when dealing with the death of a loved one. He was also involved in the hospital’s Organ Donation Memorial which – after ten years of work - led to a statue being unveiled by HRH The Duke of Gloucester near the hospital’s south entrance in October 2024.
He said: “Things have changed a lot over 28 years. At first there was no email so I had phone calls or notes pushed under the door. The hospital felt smaller and a lot less busy than it is now.
“Chaplains provide advice and support for people, sometimes after they have received bad news. We also provide services and blessings on occasions where they are needed, for example for a baby who has died (stillbirth) on the labour ward.
“It has been a great privilege to serve the hospital for so many years and I shall miss my team and the sense of contributing to the wellbeing of our patients and staff.”