A scoping group established by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Healthcare Chaplaincy Training and Development Unit, (HCTDU, now part of NHS Education for Scotland (NES)) was asked to scope awareness and provision of Spiritual Care in NHS Scotland. The group produced a report covering a survey and literature research. Following a seminar May 2005 in which this report was discussed along with some current research, a further group began work on chaplaincy service standards. A consultation conference held on 27 th June 2006 brought much support and many comments on the standards document. Despite some hesitation in trying to measure things spiritual, these standards should be a useful audit tool and an aid for future work on competencies and help development towards national standards or good practice statements on spiritual and religious care in NHS Scotland.