26 April 2018
A chaplain at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals has been named as the ‘most outstanding Muslim woman in South Yorkshire’ in recognition of her work in hospital and the community.
Sabia Rehman won the top Khadija Award at the Al Nisa Awards, which are a celebration of the contribution and achievements of Muslim women in the county.
She was recognised for her innovative and ground-breaking multi-faith work in developing understanding and co-operation between hospital teams and the community in her role as a Muslim Chaplain.
Sabia said: “I was pretty shocked to win because a lot of people had been nominated.
“Chaplaincy is something quite new in the Muslim community. It is all about providing a bridge between the hospital and the community, letting people know what we do and that we are there to speak to and provide support if it is needed.
“For it to be recognised as something that has made an impact and made a difference is the most rewarding thing for me.”
Sabia delivers bereavement training within the community, educates people about what happens when somebody dies in hospital, does pastoral work and visits Mosques and community groups to raise awareness of the support available.
She also provides a point of contact for hospital staff and can provide any guidance that is needed around the needs of Muslim patients.
Ruth Lambert, Head of Chaplaincy at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: “This award is a tribute to Sabia’s creativity and hard work. I’m delighted that her ground-breaking initiatives have been recognised.
“Our chaplaincy team is committed to providing outstanding services to patients, visitors and staff so we are very proud of Sabia’s achievements.”
Professor Mark Cobb, Clinical Director of Therapeutics & Palliative Care said: “As a Trust we strive to provide care that is culturally sensitive and meets the religious needs of patients.
“Sabia has made an enormous contribution to the Trust in helping us meet the needs of Muslim patients and in building supportive relationships with the Muslim communities we serve.”
The Trust’s multi-faith chaplaincy department is available to provide spiritual and pastoral care to staff, patients and carers of all faiths and none, seven days a week.
The team can be contacted on 0114 2212718 (Royal Hallamshire Hospital) or 0114 2715485 (Northern General Hospital).