AH ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Improving Arts, Performance and Play
Alder Hey has had an Arts for Health programme
since 2002 which has become increasingly active in
enhancing the physical environment, improving the
patient experience and supporting clinical objectives
using knowledge of proven research into the benefits
of arts participation. It is distinct from those in other
paediatric hospitals in that it is focused on patient
participation, being both patient-centred and patient
led. The arts support an individualised and very positive
healthcare experience for many patients, often focusing
on those who have long-term conditions.
The Trust Arts Coordinator along with the Arts Strategy
Team and children and young people were instrumental
in the development of arts in the new hospital, inspired
by the theme of nature and the outdoors – connecting
with the environment.
The Arts Coordinator manages an ongoing programme
of participatory arts, major projects and collaborations
with our cultural partners, as well as:
• showcasing the best of live music and performance in
our performance space,
• developing strategic links with further and higher
education,
• supporting and advising healthcare staff in
developing arts initiatives
• developing mentoring and CPD programmes for arts
and healthcare professionals.
The programme is recognised by our peers as a
national model of best practice and in July 2017,
was cited for its exemplary practice in the All-Party
Parliamentary group Inquiry into Arts, Health and
Wellbeing.
2017/18 has seen unprecedented levels of participatory
activity with our patients and their families. The number
of workshops delivered on the wards and in our
community sites has risen from 300 per year to 586
last year, and we worked with over 5,000 children and
young people. This is in large part due to a number of
high profile major projects:
Music Matters
This was a project funded by The Big Lottery: The
People Project; Alder Hey was one of three North West
organisations to receive funding through securing the
most public votes following an ITV screening promoting
the project. The project enabled us to deliver music
workshops led by professional musicians on each
in-patient ward (8 in total) once a week for 12 months.
During that time, we delivered 320 workshops and
worked with 1,600 patients. The project demonstrated
clearly the immediate benefits of music intervention on
the wards. Evaluation carried out with patients showed
that 92% of patients believed that the music session
had significantly improved their hospital stay and 84%
of patients said that it significantly helped them to
forget about their illness or condition.
Patients, parents and ward based staff unanimously
supported and welcomed the programme, recognising
the influence that live
participatory music had
on the child’s wellbeing,
physical ability and
emotional state - and
particularly with long term
patients, their ability to
cope with hospital life.
“The music session today was fantastic, the lady
who performed was amazing, we all joined in
as a family and it left us all with a really positive
and enjoyable memory to look back on at such a
difficult and hard time. I would highly recommend
these sessions and believe they are a great idea
for helping the child feel like there is something to
look forward to and make them smile. I think these
sessions are one of the best ideas the hospital has
to offer for children.”
Mum of Miley, aged 7
Music As Medicine
“I heard her playing
across the corridor
and couldn’t wait for
my turn.”
Noah, aged 4
This is an 18 month programme funded the Youth
Music Foundation. It is a partnership project with Live
Music Now North West and aims to support long term
patients in four areas of the hospital through regular
participation in music sessions led by Live Music Now
musicians. The project also embeds bespoke training
for the musicians, equipping them with the skills to
work in this sensitive environment and deliver music
sessions that the patients and families will enjoy. We
are also making a film resource to share with other
professional musicians interested in working in a
paediatric healthcare setting.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 127
Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18