Unite/The College of Health Care Chaplains (CHCC) has called for urgent government action, following the publication of new research by Theos which revealed cuts to the chaplaincy service throughout England.

The CHCC President, Revd Dr Chris Swift said: "The very welcome Theos research backs up what we have been saying for 18 months - that the NHS chaplaincy service has been hit by cuts imposed by NHS managers who view the chaplains as ‘a soft target’.

"But the NHS is not in financial difficulties because of spending on chaplaincy. Managers need to make lasting improvements to other services - not raid chaplaincy in order to cover up their lack of progress elsewhere.

"Chaplaincy is a flagship service in delivering care that meets the diverse needs of patients in modern Britain. It is available to all and personal to each. Our society has always valued the care of the vulnerable, and that includes those approaching the end of life. I ask the government to show its commitment to the chaplaincy guidance already issued by the Department of Health."

The Theos research shows that, since 2005, chaplaincy care has been cut by a dramatic 54,127 hours per year. Trusts have also reported reductions to chaplaincy provision at an average of 19 hours per week. Only one trust has reported an increase in chaplaincy hours, and one major trust has cut chaplaincy by over 50%.

The research finds that 23% of trusts report a cut to their chaplaincy budget and indicates that, even where trusts report an increase in their budget as a proportion of trust spending, they have made cuts in real terms.

Revd Dr Swift said: "We have expressed surprise in the past that the government does not collect any information on chaplaincy in the NHS."

Last year Unite/CHCC exposed that the much-reduced chaplaincy service in Worcester now relies on handouts from jumble sales and coffee mornings provided by Friends’ groups.