Harrogate District Hospital steps up commitment to a multi-faith society with new facility

Thanks to a donation of £8,000 from Sovereign Health Care, the hospital now has an ablution room for ritual washing in preparation for prayer.

Ablution involves washing the hands, mouth, nostrils, arms, head and feet with water, and is an important part of ritual purity in Islam. The room can be found in the chaplaincy centre, and is accessible throughout the day and night.

The chapel is available for prayer and reflection for people of all faiths, and is equally accessible for anyone who simply wants to have a quiet and reflective time by themselves.

The Rev David Payne, chaplaincy team leader at Harrogate District Hospital, said: “In today’s multicultural and multi-faith society, it is very important to provide appropriate facilities wherever possible.

“The provision of the new facility for ritual ablutions is a significant step in meeting needs that were not being adequately provided for until now.

“I am very pleased that the funding has been allocated in this way, and delighted to be able to offer the enhanced facility to staff, patients and visitors alike.”

The chair of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Angela Schofield, said: “We are very grateful to Sovereign Health Care for their generous donation. We greatly value our relationship with them, and thank them for their fantastic continuing support for all of our patients and staff.”

Sovereign Health Care’s community programme has donated nearly £8 million over the last 12 years to support a wide range of charities and projects across Yorkshire, including £1.7 million gifted to NHS trusts across the region to boost their vital work.

The chief executive of Sovereign Health Care, Russ Piper, said: “We are extremely proud of our long history of working collaboratively with the NHS, not only in supporting local hospitals, but also in our actual commercial business of providing cash plans.

“And we are delighted that this donation to Harrogate District Hospital has enabled them to provide these facilities for the Muslim community.”