Music to service users’ ears
Service users on the Elmdale ward in Halifax have enjoyed a special concert thanks to the national charity Music in Hospitals.
Music in Hospitals aims to improve the quality of life for adults and children with all kinds of illness and disability through the joy and therapeutic benefits of live music. The charity was established in 1948 and since then it has grown into the leading provider of live music for healthcare organisations.
The Elmdale concert took place in the ward’s occupational therapy department with service users invited to come along and listen or get involved.
The attending musician was William Allen, a singer and guitarist. He played a wide range of music from current songs to some golden oldies. He was able to respond immediately to requests from service users and the audience involvement was great with quite a bit of spontaneous audience participation!
The nursing team on Elmdale who attended also gave excellent feedback and it was clear to see that music had brought both staff and service users together to communicate and interact with one another, reiterating the benefits of music to people receiving healthcare.
Music in Hospitals don’t provide miracle cures, but promise magical moments of warmth and joy. After all it is often said that, ‘music is the best medicine in the world’.
Some of the comments from service users included, ‘It was brilliant we should have this more often’, ‘I really enjoyed it and forgot about my problems for a while’, ‘He was fantastic, a really good singer’.
About Music in Hospitals
MiH concerts bring a sustained improvement to the quality of life of adults and children affected by all kinds of illness, life limiting conditions, mental health problems, physical and learning disabilities whilst creating a shared experience that can be enjoyed by the wider community of healthcare staff, volunteers, and relatives. Their musicians’ sensitive approach helps to eliminate feelings of stigma and discrimination often experienced in healthcare by breaking down social and cultural barriers.
Find out more about Music in Hospitals.