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.”
Celebrating Make Music Day with more interactive Music Jams
Our Music Jam initiative is due to be rolled out to hospitals across the UK after demonstrating for more than a decade the positive impact it has on the mental health and wellbeing of patients in Edinburgh.
Carers’ Week at Murrayfield Memory Lane Café
It’s Carers Week, and we’re highlighting the power of live music to transform dementia-friendly spaces into vibrant hubs that help to reduce anxiety and confusion of people affected by memory loss.
Volunteers’ Week: Fiona McIntosh
We’d like to say a big thank you to all of our incredible volunteers who help to raise awareness of our work and provide valuable support behind the scenes.