Chinese

1 in 4 Chinese in the UK are Christians and 1 in 5 observe Buddhist/Taoist/ Confucianism ceremonies and practices. Many profess no particular belief.
Belief in astrology is widespread.
There are some 200 Chinese Christian churches with congregations worshipping in Cantonese, English and Mandarin. Some are denominational and some evangelical.
Chinese Christians read bilingual bibles printed in English and Chinese.
Buddhist scriptures are available in traditional script.

Language is Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, Hokkien or English.
Chinese names start with the family name first, followed by the generation name and the personal name.
Female patients prefer to be examined by female health professionals.
Single gender wards are preferred.
Showers are preferred as Chinese people are not used to bathtubs. Washing is done personally or by a spouse or relative of the same gender.
Injections are preferred in the belief that they are more effective than pills.
In addition to the main festivals of Christmas and Easter Chinese Christians celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Southern Chinese (Cantonese and Fujan): seafood, fish, pork, poultry, green vegetables, soup, rice, rice noodles and fresh fruit. Northern Chinese: bread, wheat dumplings, meat dumplings, noodles, pork, lamb, chicken, cabbage, green vegetables. Beef and cheese are the least preferred food.
Drink: Soya milk is preferred to cow’s milk as some Chinese are allergic to cow’s milk. China tea (without milk and sugar).
Buddhist/Taoist Chinese will eat a vegetarian diet before major festivals.
Chinese food should be offered to patients. Family units stay together and do not like being separated in emergencies and this includes extended family members.

All family members gather at the bedside. A Chinese Christian pastor is called to pray for and to counsel the dying person. In the UK this practice is also common among Chinese with no religious convictions or who are traditional Confucian/Taoist.
Buddhists call for a priest/monk from a Buddhist association or temple with links to Taiwan or Hong Kong.
After death undertakers handle the deceased. Some undertakers in areas with long established Chinese populations are accustomed to Chinese needs such as embalming and the deceased being fully dressed in best clothes including shoes and jewellery.
Burial or cremation may take place a week after the person has died.
If the deceased is a child, parents usually do not want to visit the mortuary. A sibling or close relative would be asked to identify the body in the mortuary.