Thanks to generous donations, a Specialist Chaplain for Oncology and Palliative Care has spent the past two years providing spiritual and emotional support to people living with cancer and those receiving end of life care across Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

Since February 2024, Frin Lewis-Smith has been there to help patients facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Frin has worked alongside clinical teams to support patients both on hospital wards and as outpatients attending clinics and treatment.

Frin’s unique role supporting end of life and cancer patients has enabled her to deliver more than 700 instances of spiritual care, supporting 195 individual patients who were balancing treatment, uncertainty and questions about meaning, mortality and hope.

During her time in this role, Frin has offered spiritual support to more than half of referred patients and is able to deliver this flexibly in clinical spaces, counselling rooms or by phone.

Frin says: “There is a misconception that outpatients are coping better because they aren’t in hospital. In reality, many of these individuals are carrying huge emotional and spiritual burdens on their own, often shielding loved ones from how frightened or overwhelmed they feel.”

Patients were referred to Frin for a wide range of reasons, including spiritual distress, existential concerns, pastoral support and bereavement. Frin was there help navigate difficult conversations with patients, talking about fears around death, changes in identity, loss of independence, or how illness had reshaped their sense of purpose.

All patients, regardless of their faith or belief could benefit from Frin’s support, and nearly one in five people she supported identified as non‑religious, with many simply wanting someone independent to listen without judgement.

Hundreds of patients have experienced moments of peace, understanding and human connection at the times they needed it most.

One patient shares how support from Frin changed their outlook:

“I have spent twelve months preparing to pass on. I am going to spend the next twelve months preparing to live.”

Frin also worked closely with oncology, psychology and palliative care teams to improve how spiritual needs are recognised and responded to.

The success of the charity funded project has sparked national interest, highlighting the value of specialist spiritual care in hospital.