To think Chemo patients should not be pestered.

I agree. Not a fuss. Think of others. Patients themselves often feel too vulnerable to complain. What if he was an imposter who had nicked a chaplain's badge?
NHS is more security conscious than it was, but there is still nothing to stop a confident looking person walking onto an adult ward or waiting room and engaging patients in conversation.

Exactly - sometimes we owe it to others to 'make a bit of a fuss' - if it is for all the right reasons.

I agree that this is unacceptable. I don't think making the hospital aware of what was going on can be classed as making a fuss. If I had observed such a thing I would think it my duty to do something to prevent further occurrences of such outrageous intrusions.

I don't think any patients, including, of course, chemo patients, should be pestered in this way.

This is totally unacceptable - but were the staff aware of it? When I was having chemo a woman came into the ward and started speaking to patients about a support group she was running (there was a joining fee!). I was uncomfortable about it and spoke to one of the nurses who told me she had no right to be there and she was told to leave in no uncertain terms.

The staff on these wards are very busy and, quite rightly, concentrating on the patients and may not have realised what was happening

My late husband would probably used some very naughtical/ nautical language mixed in with some engineering anatomical (probably physically impossible) suggestions!

If it had happened while my husband was being treated someone would have been punched and it wouldn't have been my husband!

Oh well!
Actually, some people do think this sort of thing helps! But it should NOT be offered during a chemo session!

jeni, I do wish I'd thought of it. It would have been quite good - but sadly, no!

Jess, yes I agree, I'm actually quite puzzled about a 'spiritual healer' wearing a chaplaincy badge? Was it just that he was authorised by the chaplain to be there?

jura I thought it might be a very clever pun!

I think ana that kind of "healing" would not be offered under the remit of a chaplaincy badge.

kassi I think his choice of words 'what have you got to lose' was insensitive. Letting the hospital know this man is pestering people surely is not making a fuss. I would have gone straight to the reception desk and asked what this was about. Is he going to be there at every appointment bothering people. Next will they have people collecting donations.

jeni, lol - I is a furiner - so I make mistakes, thanks though

Yes, the 'there and then' bit is strange...

My sister had both reiki and reflexology, but never in the middle of her chemo sessions.

Just a thought here. Although I strongly agree that patients should not be approached or pestered in this way, the fact that this man was offering 'healing' suggests to me that it was probably something such as reiki, whose practitioners never claim to be able to 'cure' any illness, just provide relaxing therapy.

I think he might have got a two word answer from my OH if he'd approached him during his chemo session. Second word rhymes with cough!Doesn't even make eye contact with anyone else if possible (apart from nursing staff). Takes his book, settles himself down and waits patiently for the drugs to be administered and absorbed in his system.
I think that anyone making approaches to people undergoing treatment is appalling and it should not be allowed under any circumstances.What are the hospital authorities thinking of ?
It may be giving people false hope of a cure and it also undermines the treatment that those patients are receiving. If conventional medicine can't cure you, then try mine!
Are other religious representatives allowed to go round the treatment room as well?

Not criticising jura but was that a pun on prey?

Appaling. I would actually contact the head chaplain at the hospital and make formal complaint- or the Friends of the Hospital. It is totally unacceptable to pray on people like, when they are at their most vulnerable.

That's appalling. The last thing I'd want is some healer trying to mess with me.

Rather than 'make a fuss' in the chemo unit maybe you could speak to someone in the PALS office , every hospital should have one they will raise your concerns with the relevant unit or with hospital management.

kassi There are times when making a "fuss" is to your credit. I suggest that this is one such occasion.

Thankyou. I just needed other opinions, as I was an 'onlooker' so to speak. The Chemo treatment room has about 20 people having life saving treatment at any one time. They are seriously ill and vulnerable. I personally was appalled. My friend declined, but others seemed to agree to this man 'ministering' to them. It's not the fact that he was a spititual healer that bugged me, it's the fact that he was allowed to approach people. I really want to complain, but its not in my nature to 'make a fuss'.