CLERGY from across the Eden Valley are easing pressure on GPs by lending an ear to their patients.

The Reverend Sarah Lunn is one of half a dozen ordained ministers actively involved in the Listening Ear, a project that gives the gift of time and attention.

"Within our role we are trained to listen," said Rev Lunn, who is team rector of the Heart of Eden team ministry. "So we came up with this potential plan that as part of help in the community and help for the surgery we could listen to folk that the surgery might benefit from being listened to."

Offered across five surgeries in the Eden Valley and with two others looking to join up, GPs can refer patients to the project. It is then up to the patient if they choose to attend a session.

"It's always with the consent of the patient," Rev Lunn said. "Because it is so rural everybody knows each other. Clergy and doctors are part of the trusted community and they know that if they say something it's not going to get gossiped."

Patients may come to Rev Lunn to talk through issues revolving around anxiety, social isolation or bereavement. Those who use the service do not have to have a religious faith.

"We are not counsellors," Rev Lunn said. "We are not directive and for a lot of folk if they know they're heard then that can make quite a lot of difference."

As well as making a difference to patients, the project aims to help free up doctors' time for those needing medical appointments.

Dr Helen Jervis, who is based at the Temple Sowerby Medical Practice where Rev Lunn offers her listening services, said that the service fills a gap for those who might not need professional mental health help but who still benefit from talking to somebody.

"We have patients who do not need to see us because they themselves realise it's not a medical problem," she said. "And they can find that help elsewhere.

"It's not used by all people but the people it applies to it does make a big difference," she said.

Rev Lunn said that she knew of other practices across the country that have adopted the same model and believes that it will continue to spread.

"This is the church saying we are motivated not because we want to evangelise to people because it's not that," she said. "But we are motivated by our Christian faith to give of our time for the benefit of others because we are called to love each other."