Charity spreads cheer through song to staff and patients at Warwick Hospital

A charity has help spread cheer through song to staff and patients at Warwick Hospital.

Patients and staff on an older people’s wards at Warwick hospital were recently surprised by an unusual sight outside their windows – singers from the healthcare charity, Kissing it Better.

For the past nine years, young musicians from local schools, colleges and universities have been delighting patients, visitors and staff by singing songs, playing instruments, reciting poetry, performing short drama pieces, offering hair and beauty therapies and generally offering gentle entertainment to their oldest and most frail patients.

When coronavirus guidelines heavily restricted those initiatives, the charity came up with a new initiative.

‘Outside the window’ is a way of continuing to brighten the day of patients an staff on the ground floor wards as well as those upstairs in wards and offices, many of whom come to the window to enjoy the spectacle.

Jill Fraser, the charity’s chief executive and co-founder, said: “it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to do it.

"We are so grateful to Director of Nursing, Fiona Burton, for giving us permission. It has been both fun and very emotional to see the staff bring patients to the window to sing and gently dance along to the tunes.”

Singer, Hannah Ciotkowski, who has been volunteering the charity since she was 11, and is now working full time with the charity.

She said: “It is wonderful to sing much-loved familiar songs that, hopefully, trigger good memories.

"We are fully aware of the guidelines and are thrilled that it still enables us to reach out to patients, many of whom are missing their relatives who are unable to visit them at the moment."

Staff at Warwick Hospital have also been enjoying the performances.

One nurse on the Charlcote ward commented through the window after the charity team had spotted her dancing on the ward with a colleague: “Thank you very much. It was really lovely. Our patients really enjoy it. Please come here more often, “

A nurse from the Squire Ward said: “We think it’s wonderful. The patients love it. Please come every single day."

The directors at Warwick Hospital would like to thank the charity for their visits and the South Warwickshire NHS Trust have been contacted for a comment.

Singer, Hannah Ciotkowski also recently performed to residents in Warwick. To read more go to: https://www.warwickcourier.co.uk/news/people/charity-helps-raise-spirits-warwick-residents-through-song-2518499