Award success for NUH’s ground-breaking arts project
Arts@NUH, an innovative new pilot project run by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust (NUH) primarily to help patients with dementia, recently won a top award at the Patient Experience Network National Awards (PENNA).
The Arts at NUH programme, kindly funded by Nottingham Hospitals Charity, was Winner of the Environment of Care Award.
Since the start of the pilot, Launched in September 2021, a number of projects have been implemented, including:
1) A Visual Arts project to improve the hospital environment at all our sites.
“Beautiful art work and display, it is a calming and inviting picture which patients report puts them at ease. Well done and thank you.” NUH staff member
2) A music programme - using music to support patients in daily care, building links with musicians and choirs in the community, including the incredibly powerful ‘Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure’ (About the Choir | Our Dementia Choir).
"I just saw and heard some of you singing at the Queen's Medical Centre. Absolutely made my day! Thank you all!" NUH patient
3) Introduction of a RITA device (Reminiscence Interactive Therapeutic Activities) on older persons and surgical wards.
“RITA sparks conversations, it takes people’s minds off looking at the same four walls.” NUH staff member
Launched in September 2021, the aim of the pilot was to develop, implement and evaluate an arts provision, including all visual and participatory arts forms, particularly for patients with dementia, their carers and staff. This project came out of formal and informal feedback from patients that felt bored and isolated during the Covid-19 pandemic. With further funding from Nottingham Hospitals Charity, the arts programme now continues into a second year. Nigel Gregory, Deputy Chief Executive at the Charity, said:
“The Arts programme, has proven to be an invaluable way to improve patient experience, whether that’s commissioning colourful murals along hospital corridors, or inviting talented choirs and musicians to lift the spirits of our hard-working staff. We are so pleased to have been involved in the programme and we look forward to seeing what is next to come from our Arts Project Co-ordinator.”
Speaking after the awards Megan Dawes, Arts Project Co-ordinator for Arts@NUH, whose post was created and is funded by the Charity following her vision and idea for the programme, said,
“It has been amazing to win a National Patient Experience Award for an arts programme that launched just over a year ago at NUH. The project has had a positive impact on patients and staff across the Trust in such a short space of time and with limited activity as a result of Covid-19. We are looking forward to developing the programme further in the second year and continuing to work with patients, staff and artists and organisations in our local community.”