Pioneering new residency at Coventry Hospital

This year Annie Summers and Helen Wilding have become our first resident musicians at Coventry Hospital. The partnership signifies University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust’s commitment to making live music an important part of patient experience. Violinist Helen and guitarist and harpist Annie share uplifting live music in the oncology (cancer care) and paediatric (children’s) wards once a month.

“This was a great activity for the ward. It was so relaxing and soothing for staff, children, and parents. It helped to reduce anxiety for parents trying to get their baby to sleep in a strange environment. Great for patients who have additional needs and bringing calmness from the gentle soothing music for all on the ward to appreciate.”

“A wide variety of reactions, from moving feet under bedsheets to one bay where all four men clapped and called out enthusiastically. Staff and visitors were very complimentary. It was amazing to see the difference 10 minutes made from walking into a bay of seemingly comatose people, to the alert, smiling faces.”