Hospital prescribes laughter as a healing art
Good Hope Hospital is appealing for volunteers to help set up an arts programme to support patient care.
The hospital, in Sutton Coldfield, wants to start what it has called Healing Arts – a series of activities for patients that aims to make their time in hospital more enjoyable and, possibly, make them better more quickly. The programme is aimed initially at older patients.
Rosemary Thorpe, manager of Good Hope’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), said: “At Good Hope we understand that the best care involves more than just leading-edge medical and surgical treatment.
“It also involves supporting patients and their carers in a variety of ways to make sure that their time in hospital is least stressful as possible. There is also a body of evidence that shows that patients who are more active and happy in hospital, get well quicker.”
Good Hope already has a very successful volunteer programme. However, it is now looking for a slightly different kind of volunteer who can support Healing Arts. Rosemary wants to hear from anyone who can:
Rosemary said: “We are looking for volunteers who can make a relatively long-term commitment – for at least a year. We offer a very thorough induction and training programme, so our volunteers are well supported.”
The aim is to introduce Healing Arts initially on two medical and rehabilitation wards and two surgical wards.
Any volunteer who joins Healing Arts will be carefully vetted. They will be required to provide references and will be vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau. Volunteers who carry out any alternative therapies would have to show they are qualified.
All the ideas put forward have come from discussion with patient groups, nurses and occupational therapists – and Healing Arts has been championed by the Trust Chairman, Nicky Lloyd.
She said: “Lessons from patient surveys show that peoples’ impressions of being in hospital are as much about the experience of being on a ward as about the treatment they receive.
“Most people are not happy about being in hospital, but we want people to feel as comfortable and positive as possible. Healing Arts is one way we can achieve that.
“Patients may also start or rekindle an interest in activities that they can continue when they leave us, which will be good for their long-term wellbeing.”
Anyone interested in helping us improve our patients’ stay in hospital should contact Jean Lunn, the hospital’s PALS and Volunteer Services Co-ordinator, on 0121 378 6232.
For more information, contact Andy Comber, Head of Communications, at Good Hope NHS Trust: 0121 378 2211 ext 1146, Mob: 07974 575104.
Good Hope Hospital currently has 160 hospital volunteers, 14 of whom are fully trained PALS representatives.
Picture attached shows Rosemary Thorpe who will manage the Healing Arts programme.
Source : Good Hope Communications