HOSPITAL chaplains tirelessly visit thousands of patients in Queensland each year.
They carry out a much needed role which can bring a ray of sunshine to the sick and lonely and comfort to the dying.
The job of the hospital chaplain has been made much more difficult by new privacy laws which restrict access to the information necessary to fulfil his or her role.
Privacy is always important, but it would be a sad day if a dying patient was unable to receive the last rites because of the shortcomings of these laws.
Let’s hope that moves to iron out the problems caused by the new laws will mean that necessary changes are implemented so that hospital chaplains can continue to be effective in doing their important job.