ICU Hear®

Live music can make people’s experience of hospital less stressful, especially when they are seriously ill. It can reduce the perception of pain and improve physical and emotional health.

That’s why we developed ICU Hear®, an award-winning approach using live music to improve care in high dependency and intensive care units.

 

Our professional musicians share specially-created live music experiences at people’s bedsides. The carefully chosen songs and calming melodies they share help reduce stress and anxiety for patients and their families. This creates a relaxing atmosphere in what can be a noisy, busy and challenging environment.

It also improves the morale of health and care staff during busy and difficult times, helping them to provide support for the people they look after.

ICU Hear® was launched at Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2016 and is now shared in critical care wards in several major UK hospitals. Read more in the ICU Management & Practice journal.

Violinist and harpist performing at a hospital bedside for a patient during a Music in Hospitals & Care session.
Musician playing oboe at a patient’s bedside in hospital during a Music in Hospitals & Care session.

Did you know?

  • One study found that a quarter of people in intensive care, with a particular life-threatening respiratory condition, had signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) six months after they left hospital.[1] Research has found listening to music heightened people’s ability to react and overcome stressful situations.[2]

  • Another study found that live harp music in a critical care unit reduced pain by more than a quarter (27%).[3]

  • Music can significantly reduce the need for powerful sedatives in post-operative patients in ICU.[4]

  • A study showed that music for those in ICU brought an increase in expressions of hope, joy and relaxation. Clinicians reported improved communication with family members and better patient care due to the presence of music in the ICU.[5]

Find out about Lullaby Hour, our award-winning specially-created live music experience for babies, children and their parents or carers.

Lullaby Hour
Harpist performing in a neonatal unit for a mother holding her baby during a Music in Hospitals & Care session.

Make a donation

Please give today to help seriously ill people in hospital through the healing power of live music.

Donate today

Susie Lawley, Specialist Nurse for Critical Care Rehabilitation, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead

“One critical care patient who was very unwell and needing respiratory support especially enjoyed the session. She was singing along quietly and tapping her feet, whereas before the session she was just lying still. Another patient and her family really enjoyed the music. Her husband is interested in playing the ukulele and they had lots of requests which Sharon, the musician kindly granted. A younger critical care patient really enjoyed the music, Sharon played George Ezra which he knew and enjoyed. Some visiting medical staff didn’t initially realise the music was live and were amazed.”

Cath Applewhite, Patient Experience Lead and Critical Care Sister, Manchester Royal Infirmary

“The critical care environment is, at times, chaotic, loud, busy and stressful. This is changed in an instant to that of calmness, concentration, relaxation and quietness simply by the presence of the musicians and their performance.”