How we support you

Our pastoral, spiritual and religious support care is confidential, but we may need to break confidentiality if there’s a risk of harm to yourself or others. 

To arrange an appointment, contact: 

 01296 316675 or 07557 633289 

bht.chaplaincy@nhs.net 

Pastoral support 

We offer emotional and confidential support for you and your family members who would like to make sense of their situation. It’s not a counselling service but we’re here to listen confidentially with compassion and understanding. 

You don’t need to have a specific problem to access the service. There’s no limit to the amount of sessions you have or the time limit of each session. 

Spiritual support  

It’s for you and your family to find meaning and purpose in your/their situation which can relate to your/their own faith, belief or worldview, which includes non-religious worldviews. 

We’ll explore your values and morals and help to relate them to your situation. 

Religious support 

Your family members can practice their faith through specific rituals such as prayer or reading scripture (any faith of belief).  

We can provide this over Zoom individually or through larger group sessions if more people would like to join in. 

This can also include mindfulness and guided (secular) meditation to give peace of mind during hectic times. 

We’re a multi-faith and belief team. 

We know how important it is for you to keep in touch with friends and relatives who have to be in our hospitals. We also understand that it’s not always possible for you to visit in person, so we offer a couple of ways for you to keep in touch on regularly. 

Letter to a loved one 

How it works 

• Write your message in an email or in a Word document and attach it to the email 
• Attach 1 photo to the email if you’d like to  
• We’ll print your letter (and photo), put it in an envelope and deliver it to your loved one  

We’ll need: 

• your loved one’s full name 
• their date of birth 
• their postcode 
• their NHS number if you have it. 

Please send your email to bht.lettertoalovedone@nhs.net. Unfortunately we can’t enter into a discussion via this address. 

Delivery 

Letters received before 10am from Monday to Friday will be delivered on the same day. Those received after 10am will be delivered the next day. 

We’ll deliver letters received over the weekend on the following Monday. 

Virtual visits 

We support our patients to have video calls for those who can’t visit in person. 

We can help patients do this with their own phones or through our own iPads specifically for this purpose. 

To arrange a virtual visit call our Patient Liaison Service (PALS): 

01296 316042  

9am-4pm, Monday to Friday  

bht.pals@nhs.net 

When someone approaches the end of their life, it can be an intensely emotional and confusing time for them and their loved ones. We deliver person centred, safe and compassionate end of life care in partnership with the patient and those important to them. We recognise that death and dying is a fundamental part of life and it’s a core part of the care we provide.

We provide practical support for families by removing inconvenient worries about such things as parking and visiting hours, and allowing loved ones more time to focus on each other.

Call the palliative care team on 01296 332600.

For patients who have passed away in hospital, we have a dedicated bereavement service to support you during this difficult time.

Our bereavement admin team will help you to complete the necessary paperwork and will give you information about contacting the Registrar’s office.

Find out more about our bereavement support and end of life care

Carers Bucks provides free information, advice and emotional support to unpaid carers who have relatives in hospital, and beyond the hospital stay. 

Call 0300 777 2722 during working hours and ask for the hospital support team. 

 Visit the Carers Bucks website for more information. 

Supporting a vulnerable relative  

You may support a vulnerable relative and feel concerned what will happen to them if you become ill. 

If you’re unable to support your relative, and there are no other family or friends to stand in, please contact the council 0300 131 6000. They will link you up with local support. 

If you’re coming to hospital and need extra help for a disability, impairment or a specific communication requirement please contact the ward or department you’re visiting. We’ll do our best to meet your needs. 

Wheelchair access

 All main entrances to our main hospital sites have wheelchair access. 

 Wheelchairs are available, please check with reception staff. 

Disabled parking

All of our hospital car parks have disabled parking spaces. At some sites we have disabled parking at the front of the building. 

 Please display your blue badge clearly. 

Hearing loops

Some of our departments have audio induction loops – please ask staff if a hearing loop is available on your arrival in the department.  

Interpreting and translation

If you need an interpreter to help you communicate during a hospital appointment, please contact the ward or department that you’re attending. You’ll find contact details on your hospital appointment letter. 

For information regarding interpreting and translation enquiries including British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). 

Call 01296 316042 or email bht.pals@nhs.net. 

Our PALS team are available between 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. 

Patients with learning disabilities and autism

We have specialist nurses that provide support for adult patients with learning disabilities and autism. They help with communication, care needs and support for families and carers. 

Hospital car service  

If you’re registered with a GP in Buckingham, Steeple Claydon or Winslow, you can get transport from home to and from your hospital appointments. A volunteer driver from the hospital car service will pick you up and wait for you while you attend your appointment. 

Find out more including how to book and fees, depending on where you live.

Help with transport costs

The NHS Healthcare Travel Costs scheme can help towards your travel costs. You may qualify for help if you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests. 

Find out more about help towards your travel costs 

Even small changes can help you achieve your healthy lifestyle goals and Live Well Stay Well offers support to help you find the service that’s right for you.

Live Well Stay Well is a free service that has helped thousands of people to lose weight, quit smoking, get more active, feel happier or manage their diabetes. The service can help you to make lifestyle changes that lead to a healthier life.

Live Well Stay Well is commissioned by the Buckinghamshire Council Public Health Team and delivered by Parkwood Healthcare Ltd. The single point of access is commissioned in partnership with the Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group.