ABSTRACT
In contrast, the spiritual component of healthcare is counter-cultural, as it is predominantly person-centred. Person-centred spiritual care has to be open to how patients and their carers are dealing with what is happening in their lives in a manner that is appropriate for them. There are three main resources available to help us as healthcare practitioners to provide person-centred spiritual care: relevant up-to-date information, the expertise, experience and abilities of others, and ourselves. Healthcare professionals should also never underestimate the spiritual care that is provided by members of a patient's family, their friends, other patients and visitors. Each healthcare professional makes the choice as to how much of self is shared or revealed in any encounter, task performed or indeed in the vocational role embodied. Chaplains are a resource that healthcare practitioners can utilise to help to meet the complex spiritual and religious needs of those in their care.
