Pastoral care
Pastoral care is based on the healing ministry of Jesus and the values, philosophy and mission of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.
Our Pastoral Care Team is a specific ministry of the Hospital, which seeks to respond compassionately to the spiritual and emotional needs of patients, family members and staff. We visit and welcome patients and families of all faiths and backgrounds.
For many patients, coming into the Hospital can lead to a feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty. This is often not only reflected in their physical body, but also in their emotional and spiritual condition which accompanies the experience of illness, pain and loss.
The services of pastoral care are offered in co-operation with other members of our Healthcare Team.
We provide:
- Regular patient visits
- Listening sensitively to the concerns and needs of each person
- Spiritual and emotional support to patients, family/carers
- Support in crisis
- Journeying with the dying
- Help during and after grief and loss
- Prayer
- Distribution of communion
- Sacrament of the sick
- Welcome and blessing of new babies
- Pastoral care visits
Pastoral care visits
A member of the Pastoral Care Team is available Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm.
If you would like to speak with a team member, please contact Pastoral Care (07) 4727 4105 or ask nursing staff to arrange a visit.
After hours and weekends
Requests for pastoral care services can be made by contacting the Hospital Coordinator (07) 4724 4562, or speaking to your nursing staff.
The Catholic Hospital Chaplain and other Ministers of Religion
Mater Private Hospital Townsville has regular visits from the Catholic Hospital Chaplain and other Ministers of Religion. If you would like to request a visit from the Hospital Chaplain or other Ministers of Religion, contact the Pastoral Care Office (07) 4724 4105 during office hours, or if it is after hours, contact the Hospital switchboard 07 4727 4444.
Interpreter services
If you think a relative, friend or patient may need an interpreter, ask the Receptionist, Nurse, Doctor or Pharmacist, and provide them with details of the language, dialect and gender needed, which will assist them to organise an interpreter.
TIS National Free Interpreting Service
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please contact 131 450 to find out more.
Directory of Accredited Practitioners of Translating and Interpreting
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) is the national standards and credentialing authority for translators and interpreters in Australia. It is the only organisation to issue certification to practitioners who wish to work in this profession in Australia. For further information contact 1300 557 470.
In addition to our translated health information, other aged care, health and medical translated resources are available for friends and relatives of non-English speaking people. These include:
‘My Aged Care’ provides translated resources to help older people find information about health services and how to receive these services.
NPS Medicineswise provides translated resources about the safe use of medicines.