The layoff of Sunrise Health Region's only chaplain generated some buzz but little in the way of public protest when it was announced last spring.
That changed this month when the Yorkton Ministerial Association, frustrated by its dealings with the health region, decided to share the details of its campaign to restore the position.
"For us, this is the next step: to get our story out into the community," the association's Dr. Peter Hay tells Yorkton This Week.
The chaplaincy was the only front line position cut during the harsh belt-tightening process on this year's health budget. Dropping the Yorkton-based position saved about $80,000 toward the region's $1.89 million deficit.
"Nobody takes those decisions lightly," says Suann Laurent, interim CEO for the Sunrise Health Region.
The Reverend James Pedwell, who held the position during the four years of its existence, is still living in Yorkton. His employment with the health region ended on May 12.
"I was quite taken aback," he recalls. "I did not see it coming whatsoever, because we were making some great strides in developing policy and expanding the scope of the position."
The Ministerial Association began a letter-writing campaign following the news, encouraging citizens to ask for a reversal of the decision. Along the way, the members enlisted the personal support of such figures as Mayor James Wilson and 小蓝视频 Greg Ottenbreit.
"The board is an autonomous organization and I respect their decisions," says Ottenbreit, "but I have seen the benefits of Reverend Pedwell's involvement in the health region."
A petition circulated by resident Betty Fritzke accumulated hundreds of signatures in the meantime.The campaign amounted to little, according to Hay.
"We got absolutely no response--not even an acknowledgment of our letters."
At the Ministerial Association's October meeting, a new letter was drafted and sent directly to each member of the health board. This one requested a meeting with the board, which was granted in November.
At the meeting, the Ministerial Association revealed it had raised $10,000 which it was willing to put toward the salary of a chaplain.
"We were hoping they would tell us, 'Okay, that's a good start,' and challenge us to go out and raise more," says Hay. "But they just said 'No.'"
Restoring the chaplaincy is off the table, confirms Suann Laurent, but the health region says it is willing to look at more "creative" ways to provide spiritual services.
"Sometimes we can't afford to do everything internally under the health services umbrella, and so we have to look at partnering with our communities to help deliver services."
The administration proposed working with the Ministerial Association to fill the chaplain's role on a volunteer basis. This is the way spiritual services were offered prior to the creation of the chaplain position, and how they have continued to be offered in most areas of the region beyond Yorkton.
But the Ministerial Association is skeptical about this plan, says Hay. Of the four pastors who used to share the work in Yorkton, only one is still in the city and active, and he no longer has time available.
Furthermore, none of the local clergy have the specialized training demanded by the job.Both Hay and Pedwell say they have gotten the impression that the health board has a poor understanding of what a chaplain does.
"It's not just about holding hands with little old ladies at their bedside," says Hay.
In addition to a standard clergy background, a chaplain has extensive clinical training that covers pharmaceutical effects, counselling techniques, and crisis/trauma intervention. During his time with the health region, Pedwell counselled patients and residents, acted as a liaison for family members, led bereavement support groups, worked with mental health and social workers on the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team, advised doctors on handling patients of various faiths, and trained and coordinated the network of volunteer spiritual workers who covered the region's less central communities.
Another often overlooked aspect of the job, notes Pedwell, is counselling the hospital staff members themselves. Few official options are in place to help them cope with their difficult jobs.
"I think you'll find that morale is quite poor at the hospital. A chaplain can help alleviate that."
Pedwell speaks candidly about his view of the board's decision to terminate his job. He believes the health region is protecting administrative positions at the cost of care positions.
"I come from larger hospital centres where there were half as many vice-presidents and assistants to administrative assistants as there are here.
"I think there have been some poor decisions."
Pedwell says that the chaplaincy adds "a deeper level of care" that will be missed, particularly with Yorkton and its hospital expected to grow significantly over the next decade.
He also cautions that his treatment by the health region could make it difficult to recruit another chaplain in the future.
Still, the reverend says he would gladly take on the job again if it were offered.
"I enjoyed working there very much. I liked the challenges the position had.
"It's funny, I feel my work isn't quite over here."
