After spending her career as a GP, Katie Warner sensed God calling her into a new ministry. Katie, who worships at St Francis Church, Valley Park, is now a volunteer GP Chaplain at a nearby surgery, offering a listening ear and pastoral support to patients who might be dealing with illness, bereavement, loneliness, relationship struggles or the pressures of everyday life. She is part of the diocese chaplaincy network.
GP chaplaincy provides a confidential safe space for adults to explore the challenges they face beyond their medical needs, helping them find hope, meaning and inner strength. Katie explains more about her role:
What called you to GP chaplaincy?
I was a GP for the whole of my career, working in Romsey and Southampton. As I approached retirement, I had a sense that God was nudging me to let go of my job and that there was something else I needed to do, but I had no idea what it would be. I stopped work in 2019 and spent a year listening and waiting.
The last surgery I worked in was in Chandler’s Ford, close to where I live, and we had a prayer group. Some of the doctors and staff had prayed for many years that there would be a way of caring for patients’ spiritual needs and supporting the whole person and I think that was very instrumental. Our previous vicar, Sarah, knew about GP chaplaincy, and suggested we tried offering a pilot at the surgery. I had no idea what it was but felt that maybe this was what God had been nudging me towards. I started a couple of weeks before the Covid pandemic.
It was a very interesting journey. Initially, I couldn’t meet many people face to face, so I spent a lot of time talking on the phone, on Zoom, walking on footpaths, or meeting people in socially distanced back gardens.
I held the Bishop’s Commission for Mission which involved listening training and my career as a GP had also equipped for listening. But I almost had to unlearn my GP problem-solving skills because chaplaincy is very different, although they complement each other.
I trained with the Association of Chaplains in General Practice and linked up with the Guild of Health, a Christian charity supporting people in healing ministry. Their monthly online gatherings have been a massive support.
Because I was already known to the surgery, they trusted me to do it in a way they were comfortable with. There is a lot of research showing that primary care chaplaincy improves people’s well-being, can reduce the need for antidepressants or counselling and reduce the repeat visits to the surgery.
What does your role involve, and what kind of situations are you asked to help with?
People are referred to me either by the GPs or by the social prescriber at the surgery.
Around one in five GP consultations are not directly linked to medical need, but to loneliness, debt, housing, social issues or mental health. People are often wondering what life is about or struggling to cope with difficult situations.
Mostly, we simply meet together. It’s about being present, listening and journeying alongside them. It’s for people of all faiths and no faith. I would say it’s motivated by my faith, but it’s not trying to promote faith – and that’s crucial. People know they have a space that is not judgmental and there’s no agenda. It is completely focused on them.
Very often people will say, ‘I don’t have a faith. I’m not religious’ and that’s absolutely fine.
But as they begin talking, they’re often exploring what gives them hope, what gives their life meaning, or perhaps they are facing illness or bereavement. All of those have a huge spiritual dimension so faith conversations can develop naturally in a language they are comfortable with.
I think the value of having that space and someone to listen is immense. Somebody once described chaplaincy to me as being ‘like Jesus in the neighbourhood’. It’s about being where people are.
St Francis Church has provided me a quiet room overlooking a small garden where I can meet people. I can access it through a back entrance, but also through the church itself. Quite often people are astonished by the building and its sense of light and welcome.
If it’s appropriate, I can tell people about our Monday community café. Some, who have joined through chaplaincy, are now welcoming others at the café. I feel I’m connecting with work God is already doing in the community and those connections allow other things to happen. It’s really exciting.
Being in the church, do people ask to be prayed for?
The leaflet patients receive explains that our meetings are confidential, not judgmental and separate from their medical care. It also says that prayer can be offered if that’s something they would like.
People with a faith background often ask for prayer but other times I’ve been really surprised. I tend to be quite cautious because you don’t always know people’s experiences or understanding of prayer. I remember one lady I’d been meeting with for several months. I was able to pray with her and afterwards she became quite tearful. She said no one had ever offered to pray with her before and she was really moved.
I couldn’t have done that as a GP, but if that’s where our conversations lead, then I can as a chaplain. Sometimes people want to talk about spiritual things, and those conversations have been incredibly deep and wide-ranging
You’ve obviously seen the difference it makes to people!
Hugely. It’s such a privilege because we all know there are times when we simply need someone to listen and be present. It’s not that someone is going to solve the problem, but by giving people that space and attention they often find their way through.
I’ve met people who’ve experienced trauma years ago and have never been able to speak about it. Often it involves forgiveness of themselves or someone else, letting go and finding hope. Sometimes we’ve lit a candle or prayed together as a way of marking that moment. They realise they’re not alone and are able to move forward.
Do you find it has strengthened your faith?
Absolutely because I can’t do it on my own. I constantly feel I need to remain open to God. Someone once described it using the image of rivers. The patient’s river is flowing, God’s river is already carrying them, and my river flows alongside theirs for a little while before we diverge again.
When our meetings finish, I know the patient’s river is still being carried in God’s river. He was already at work before I arrived. I also know that my river needs to keep flowing through him. Otherwise, it’s only a trickle and won’t be much use.
I have become more aware of my own need to stay spiritually resourced, so I have a long-standing friend, and we pray together every week for the chaplaincy.
What is your hope for the future of GP chaplaincy?
My hope would be that every surgery would have access to a GP Chaplain, just as every surgery has access to social prescribers. People are increasingly realising that we are whole people. The spiritual dimension is so significant, and it impacts hugely on your physical health too. Chaplaincy isn’t counselling. It isn’t about giving answers. It’s about listening, being present and building connections.
Many chaplains work as volunteers, but some are employed by surgeries or supported by charities.
The NHS is increasingly focusing on neighbourhood health and recognising that community resources, including churches and faith groups, can play a valuable part in people’s wellbeing. GP chaplaincy has recently been recognised along with services such as physiotherapy and occupational health for possible funding. That’s a big breakthrough and I believe it has come about through years of prayer.
With family and other commitments, I have to keep a balance with my chaplaincy but the potential number of people that I could see is huge.
Recently I’ve linked with Chandler’s Ford Chaplaincy which supports workplaces, local businesses and care homes. They are exploring a link with another local surgery and together we are hoping to recruit and support new chaplains.
I’m also speaking to the town centre chaplain in Winchester so we can encourage one another. Nationwide, there are exciting opportunities to develop links with local surgeries and social prescribing teams
If people feel chaplaincy might be for them, you don’t have to have a medical background. It helps to understand how the health service works but many chaplains come from pastoral or counselling backgrounds or simply have a heart for listening and are willing to undertake some training. Safeguarding is included it that training and people can give as much time as they are able. It’s a process of discernment and I’m always happy to talk to people who would like to explore it.
I feel that part of what God has nudged me to do is not only to be a chaplain, but to spread the word and help others discover this incredible ministry.
Katie is happy to hear from anyone who would like more information. She can be contacted at: katie.warner@stfrancis-valleypark.org.uk
