APRESSURE group which defends the rights of nonbelievers has slammed a plan by two Hampshire hospitals to give patients a spiritual health check.

When people are admitted to Southampton’s General or Princess Anne hospitals they will be asked whether or not they have any faith needs that can be supported during their stay.

They will also be asked if they would like to talk through their situation with a chaplain.

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust's chaplaincy team has also developed new guidelines that will ensure all staff receive appropriate spiritual training to give patients the best possible care.

But the new policy has been attacked by the National Secular Society.

President Terry Sanderson told the Daily Echo: “This sounds like the chaplains in the hospitals touting for business. It is a gross misuse of scarce National Health Service resources and an intrusion into the privacy of individuals who are coming to hospital for medical treatment.

“A recent Freedom of Information request showed that Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust already spends over £66,000 on chaplaincy services. Presumably this new initiative will add even more to this bill. How on earth have we reached the stage that you can’t even go to hospital for treatment without having religion foisted on you like this?”

Mr Sanderson also claimed that requiring staff to undergo spiritual training was also a waste of their precious time.

He said: “Nursing and medical staff are employed by the hospital to look after people’s health. They should not have to take on this burden too.”

The hospital trust has defended the new policy and says that patients are free to choose whether or not they use the service.

The Rev Karen MacKinnon, deputy spiritual care manager, said: “The spiritual care policy aims to ensure that all patients and carers are aware of what support is available to them in hospital so they can choose whether they want to access this service.

“For those of faith it can be an invaluable support in helping them to cope with the traumatic and distressing situations they may be faced with.

“Equally the role of healthcare chaplains is to support those of no faith and indeed actually defend the rights of non-believers in hospital too.”

She added: “If people are not coping or are extremely anxious and scared, the probability is that their recovery and subsequent discharge will be delayed.

“By taking this new approach to spiritual care, patients and their families will be much clearer on what services we offer.”