One of Hillingdon Hospital’s most unusual employees is hospital chaplain Jack Creagh who provides a quiet but reassuring presence for people in need.

In hospital, people of all faiths come together under one roof and Mr Creagh often puts his own religion aside in his day-to-day work.

He rarely wears a clerical collar or cross unless required and shows no outward sign of his Roman Catholic faith.

"The two most important qualities of my work in hospital are compassion and listening," he said.

The American born chaplain spent 18 years involved in mission work in east Africa and now spends his days challenging the stereotype of a hospital spiritual advisor.

He said: "People think of the chaplain as someone downstairs who wears a cassock.

"I like to challenge that perception that we are 'people who loiter with intent at patients' bedsides' and let people know that I am here for everyone."

One such way he stands out from the crowd is by travelling to and from work on his powerful 500cc motorbike, saving time to be with patients quicker.

Often alerted by ward sisters to someone in need, Mr Creagh will quietly pay them a visit asking if they would like to talk.

He might be called to perform last rites, support a mother who has lost a child in labour or talk to a member of staff who has been personally affected by an incident.

He has presided over memorial services of Christians, Hindus and Sikhs at one of two designated graveyards.

He explains how he balances the clinical environment of a hospital with the emotional and spiritual need of some of its patients

"Medical procedures don’t alleviate spiritual pain and the two approaches can sit comfortably aside one another.

"We’re all people at the end of the day," he said.

A recent winner at the annual Hillingdon Hospital staff awards and a trust governor, CARE ambassador and trained psychotherapist, the chaplain may be one of a kind, but he is passionate about the work he and others across the country do under the NHS.

He said: "The NHS has been through a lot of change in the past three years and chaplaincy services have had to weather the storm along with everyone else.

"Greater care and compassion are the national agenda and we have an important role to play in that."