Hospital chaplain retires after 28 years

Reverend George Sarmezey initially signed a three-year contract at Northampton General Hospital

A hospital chaplain has retired after 28 years of offering support to patients, staff and families.

Reverend George Sarmezey, who has just turned 64, stepped down from his role at Northampton General Hospital on Friday.

He first joined the chaplaincy team in 1997 on a three-year contract, but when his senior colleague left, he ended up "stepping into his shoes".

"I stayed [in the job] for 28 years for family reasons but also there wasn't anything better out there and I just enjoy the ministry and the job," he explained.

The chaplaincy team supports the religious, spiritual and pastoral needs of everyone on the hospital site, including patients, visitors and staff.

Reverend Sarmezey had previously worked as an assistant priest in Bristol and Swindon and carried out visiting on wards at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

He said he applied for the job after seeing it advertised in The Church Times.

'Don't really retire'

One of the highlights of his time at the hospital, he said, was working on a 2008 project with the King's Fund to refurbish a bereavement suite.

"The big cultural change... was rather than the families going to the wards to collect the paperwork, they would be able to talk to a dedicated bereavement officer and that was a huge positive change," he said.

He plans to take holidays, pick up the guitar again, and continue leading services locally.

"I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also very aware that priests don't really retire!" he added.

The hospital's director of nursing thanked the reverend for his "incredible support for our patients, their families and all of our colleagues".

"His friendly, reassuring, and deeply sensitive, approach has been invaluable and very much appreciated during his 28 years of dedicated service," said Jo Smith.

"He has made such a difference to the services we provide our patients and staff."