 At Mid Cheshire Hospitals
MCHFT arts programme supports the wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors through creative environments and activities. Our brand new programme, co-designed with staff and patients, offers creative writing, visual arts, dance and music resources, performances and activities that provide engaging and welcoming spaces and experiences for all.
About the programme
There is much evidence to demonstrate the powerful and significant impact that the arts can have on our mental and physical health and wellbeing. Our arts programme is informed by this evidence, providing creative and accessible opportunities for staff and patients to engage with a variety of artforms.
The programme has three main aims which are to:
- improve our hospital environments by making them warm, welcoming and engaging spaces
- support patient recovery through a variety of projects, live programme and creative resources
- support staff wellbeing by providing creative activities for them to engage with at times and places that suit them
The arts programme is funded by MCH Charity. The programme will help to deliver the charity's objectives which are to improve and enhance patient care and experience and to support staff wellbeing.
We'd love to hear your feedback on any parts of the programme including artwork in the hospital. Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think via the QR code.
Projects
Musicians in Residence
Between September-December 2024, we worked with Live Music Now to deliver a music programme for targeted wards at Leighton Hospital. Two musicians, Esme Bridie and Eleanor Mills, worked with staff and patients in our Cancer Centre, Children's Ward and Stroke Ward. Watch our film to learn more about the project or read the Evaluation Report: Musicians in Residence Project final report
Reflections on Nature: Rest, recharge, connect
Wild Rumpus were approached to meet with a group of staff and propose some arts interventions to engage staff with our charity funded outdoor spaces in new ways. They are an arts organisation who specialise in nature connectedness. Using charity funding and an NHS Green Libraries grant we have commissioned Wild Rumpus to install the telephone tables and lotus flowers that you see here in our staff courtyards throughout March and April 2025.
Each of the 2 telephones play audio content from 2 environmentally themed books, Letters to the Earth and Lost Words read by people such as Emma Thompson and Guy Garvey.
The lotus flowers will provide a point of interest for staff, visitors and patients walking down the corridors, particularly after dark.
See staff and volunteer reactions below.
Our National Health Stories
Our National Health Stories was a national programme of creative activity which aimed to tell the stories of staff from 19 UK trusts in recognition of 75 years of the NHS. Trusts worked in different ways, collaborating with a variety of creatives and staff. At Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust we worked initially with poet Beth Calverley. Beth's practice centres around co-creation and for this project she produced verbatim poems with various teams. Extracts from the poems are featured in the short film below.
Beth also created a poem for our trust based on the many conversations she had with staff during her visits here. It is recited by members of staff in the film below.
Mid Cheshire colleagues also performed some of the poetry to an audience of hundreds during a national event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
Felicity Nixon, Matron DCSS, and Karen Simpson, Deputy General Manager at Victoria Infirmary Northwich, were among the stars of the show at Our NHS Stories Live in Manchester. You can see the recording here: https://ournhstories.org.uk/live-2023 (Mid Cheshire at 59 minutes 24 seconds on the Finale Live Stream).
Meadow Suite
Leighton Hospital's new MCH Charity funded facility for families going through the tragedy of baby loss opened in September 2023. As part of its development, artist, Jac Seifert of Orakel Workshop, was commissioned to create artwork for the suite.
Jac worked with local parents with lived experience, responding to their ideas and themes and developing a whole design concept with them for the suite which included bespoke wallpapers, window designs and prints.
One parent said, I have found this process an amazing experience and have loved being part of it." Another said, "I hope it can bring families who will use the suite to feel that they can be at peace too."
Children’s Emergency Department
Artist Dan Savage worked with staff in Leighton Hospitals Paediatric Emergency Department to co-create illustrations for bespoke artwork for the new unit  explaining to children and their families the roles associated with different uniforms. A wildlife theme was chosen to reflect the rural surroundings of Leighton Hospital.
Moments of Serenity
During recent times we have all longed to escape to a place of serenity, to re-charge our batteries and enjoy the special places in our lives. During 2021, Mid Cheshire Hospital Trust staff took part in a creative project with photographer Andrew Billington, to capture the places and scenes in their lives that helped them to find a moment of serenity. You will see a selection of these photographs around the ground floor corridors of Leighton Hospital. We have created a series of soundscapes to accompany the images and encourage you to download them here and listen whilst you immerse yourself in the scenes in front of you.
News
Staff receive Badge of Excellence Awards through Live Music Now
As part of our Musicians in Residence programme at Leighton Hospital, 5 members of staff have been working with musicians Esme Bridie and Eleanor Mills to achieve a Badge of Excellence in Use of Music in Care and Health.
Ian Moston, MCHFT CEO, and Megan Nurse, Chair, join staff for launch of Reflections on Nature project for staff outdoor spaces.
Reflections on Nature: Rest, recharge, connect, is a collaboration with nature connectedness organisation, Wild Rumpus. Musicians from Wild Rumpus provided a musical backdrop to the event attended by staff from across the Trust.
Creative Resources
These resources are designed to provide some ideas and prompts to bring a few minutes of mindful creativity into your day during a break or to help you unwind after your working day. All of the activities have been designed by professional creative practitioners specialising in creative health and wellbeing.
Take Notice: De-Stress with Art
In partnership with Manchester Art Gallery's Health and Wellbeing programme, we have created a series of short films that encourage you to spend a few minutes with an artwork from the gallery's collection. Subtle animations and audio will guide you, encouraging you to slow down the process of looking and take time to notice. There are suggested drawing activities at the end of each film if you have a little more time.
Origami
We have been working with Dr Lizzie Burns and Zulay Sayalero of Origami Pulse. They have delivered online workshops for staff and designed resources for patients.
If you would like to try some origami yourself click on the buttons below:
