To make this even less work for yourself, why not give the PCs this package:

*1 extra healing surge per person
*Each PC can use 1 healing search as a free action 1/day (in addition to any Powers they have that already grant such healing surge uses)
*1 extra action point

Then you don't have to bother with the NPC cleric at all. They get all the benefits without you having to build, run or track an extra character.