A project that will bring live music to wards at some of north Cumbria’s hospitals has been awarded funding.
Cumbria County Council has given North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity £3,625 to support North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Music Medicine project. The money has come from the council’s Carlisle Local Committee grants fund.
The impact of music on the health and wellbeing of patients in hospitals has been extensively researched finding benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure to helping spark memories in people living with dementia.
Music can help lift peoples’ spirits by playing new or familiar tunes. It can also help pass the time by engaging in music-making or conversations with other patients about the music.
Music Medicine will be working with a highly experienced musician who is also a Music Therapist from BlueJam Arts.
Clare Warwick, charity fundraising lead at NCIC, said: “It is fantastic that Healing Arts have received funding for their Music Medicine project from Carlisle’s Local Committee.
“We are delighted that they have been able to support this additional service to enhance the experience of our patients and help make NCIC a great place to work. We are excited to launch the project next month on our Renal Ward at the Cumberland Infirmary. We are hoping long term to roll the project out to different wards and across NCIC.
“We can only deliver projects like these through the generosity of our charity’s supporters.”
Susie Tate, healing arts manager at NCIC, said: “I am delighted that Healing Arts have received this funding, particularly after such a difficult period of time.
“Music brings many benefits to the health and wellbeing of staff and patients from lifting people’s spirits to easing anxiety and relieving boredom.
“Arts projects in hospitals also help to build connections between patients and staff and we are very fortunate to be working with a local music therapist whose expertise will help to enhance these connections and the overall ward environment.”
Councillor Cyril Weber, chair of Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Carlisle, said: “I am delighted that Carlisle Local Committee has been able to support NHS Charities with the pilot to bring Music Medicine into the local hospitals.
“This support will not only lift spirits within the hospital but provide an intervention that helps alleviate distress, supports movement and sparks memories.”
The project is due to start in November and it is hoped that it will be extended to other wards and hospitals as it progresses.
