A Christian Network to support those working in hospitals has been set up by a member of St George’s Church in the centre of Leeds.
Karen Flood, a Consultant Vascular Interventional Radiologist for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, set up the now registered network as a way of uniting both medical and non-medical Christian staff across the trust.
Around a hundred are now signed up to the network, which includes a WhatsApp group where contact can be made and prayer requests can be shared. A meeting every Tuesday lunchtime also takes place, where members meet for prayer and a Bible Study.
“About three years ago I really felt that God was calling me to unite Christians within the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust so that we could have a group of people supporting one another in the workplace, to help us be Christians on a day-to-day basis,” said Karen.
“With everything that has been going on in the last year, it felt like a really good time when we needed some support for people working in the trust.”
Following conversations with the Christian Medical Fellowship, a charity uniting and equipping Christian Doctors and Nurses to live and speak for Jesus, Karen has now been invited to work as a volunteer in order to set up similar networks in NHS trusts across the country.
The Revd Lizzy Woolf (pictured on the right with Karen), Rector at St George’s, said, “We love hearing stories of Christian faith making a difference in the workplace.”
“Karen’s initiative has inspired us, as it seems like a practical way to support NHS staff at this challenging time. We’re cheering her on as she sets up networks across the country.”
If you wish to support Karen there are three ways to help: pray, tell anyone who works within Leeds Teaching Trust who may be interested and ask those working in other NHS trusts whether they’d be interested in helping to set up a Christian Network with Karen.
Karen can be contacted at karen.flood2@nhs.net
To find out more, an online interview between Karen and Lizzy can be viewed here on YouTube.