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Parish Nurse

First Norwich parish nurse given accreditation

The first-ever Parish Nursing Service in Norwich has been fully accredited by Parish Nurse Ministries UK, the umbrella organisation that provides support and advice to all parish nurses.   

St Francis Parish Nursing Service, run by Angela Stewart RN, is based at St Francis Church in the parish of Heartsease in North Norwich. 

The service was set up a year ago to provide whole person health care to people of all faiths and none within the area. A team of 12 volunteers were commissioned and support was provided by the Diocese of Norwich.  Grants were obtained to fund the service over a period of 3 years from the Cinnamon Network and the Churches Urban Fund, amounting to £7000.   

The volunteers have undergone training for their role and bring a wealth of life experience to the team. A survey of the local area and population was also undertaken to identify the health needs in the parish.

The Rev Canon Peter Howard, minister of St Francis Church said “ I think it is at the heart of Christian ministry to be interested in health, especially seeing it in a holistic way, mind, body and spirit, communal as well as individual. There is no doubt in my mind that parish nursing has a place in the work of the church and I would commend it to other churches as a means of deepening their ministry’.

Since its beginning, the service has been reaching out to people in the parish in various ways.  These have included provision of spiritual, physical and social support, aromatherapy, flower ministry and transport to appointments.  Groups which have been set up as well, include New Pathway, for those who have been bereaved, a computer club and a craft group, and there are plans to run a Parish Nurse clinic at the local luncheon club.

Angela Stewart (pictured above) said “It is wonderful that the parish nursing service is now fully accredited, and to be able to share what God is doing through parish nursing in Norwich.”

The parish nursing service can be contacted on 01603 439101.


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