Soundbite Evaluation 2014

Soundbite

Art at the Heart of the RUH

Evaluation Report 2014

Aims and Objectives Soundbite Art at the Heart (AATH) aims to enhance the hospital environment and experience with measurable benefits to patients, staff and visitors. Committed to excellence and innovation we provide creative opportunities for the whole community through partnerships, participation and collaboration.

Soundbite is a major part of AATH and brings a varied programme live music and creative activities to RUH wards and public areas; it is now in its fourth successive year of delivering high quality live music and creative reminiscence for older patients.

In May 2014 Grants for the Arts (Arts Council England) awarded AATH funding for 2014-16.

This guarantee of core funding, in addition to our other valued on going supporters, will allow us to plan ahead, hone our skills and expand our reach. The support and guidance that external evaluators and mentors; 5x5x5=Creativity can bring to AATH will give us the benefit of expert monitoring, mentoring and support.

“Very pleasant surprise, very enjoyable, excellent performance�

Patient on a ward Musician in Residence Frankie Simpkins

Soundbite Evaluation Report 2014

Objectives 1. To offer a variety of art and music projects to support the healing of patients 2. To give patients, staff and visitors the opportunity to be creative and to showcase their work 3. To promote a widespread understanding of the important of arts in healthcare 4. To establish good working relationships with clinical staff and patients 5. To develop an innovative service with exceptionally high standards 6. To encourage people to take part in arts and cultural activities, for example through student placements and involvement with schools 7. To be recognised for our quality service by external organisations and the community that we serve

“RUH is determined to be one of the top dementia friendly hospitals in the UK over the next few years. The role of Soundbite in this ambition cannot be understated. Music, arts and activities for people with dementia can transform the atmosphere on a ward, and support the healing environment. It is fantastic to see staff getting involved in personalised care for this vulnerable group” Dr Chris Dyer

"We so enjoyed Julia's singing. It was so refreshing especially as it has been such a stressful time with my husband being so ill.

Thank you so much".

Visitor in the Atrium

We would like to thank the following organisations for their support throughout 2014 Generously funded by the

Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust

@artatruh www.ruh.nhs.uk/art

Lunchtime Performances

Provide creative opportunities for the whole community through partnerships, participation and collaboration

The Lunchtime performance programme brings music to the wards and public areas of the RUH. We aim to have a variety of musicians to suit most tastes, from folk, jazz and blues, to classical and world music.

All our musicians perform to the highest of standards and each performer is given a 'Guidance for Visiting Musicians' booklet which includes useful information on suggested repertoire, what to expect on a ward environment and dementia awareness.

We have good links with local musicians from Bath Folk Club and Bath Spa University. This year we have held 27 performances, including the locally celebrated Bath Folk Festival week where 5 performances took place over 5 days.

Bath Hospital Radio Collaboration Art at the Heart are teaming up with Bath Hospital Radio, which broadcasts 24 hours a day to patients at the Royal United and Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases as well as online.

The radio station has plans to relaunch its schedule including new specialist music shows, the introduction of spoken word programmes and extending its coverage of news across the two hospital sites.

Exciting plans in the pipeline include; live music recordings and in-conversation events with exhibiting artists and musicians. Bath Hospital Radio is run entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at Bath Hospital Radio, email contact@bathhospitalradio.org. uk.

Lunchtime Performances Bath Folk Club – Festival Marick Baxter – Folk Flute Mac Seka – Senagalese Songwriter Louise Baxter – Folk Violin Gina Griffin – Guitar and Vocals Tim Petherick – Traditional Folk Guitar Deauir – Welsh music on Harp and Violin The Towpath Choir – Sea Shantys Amadou Daigne – Senagalese songwriter Giordano Massaccessi – Accordian Maestro Bob Kilpatrick – Country and Blues Guitar The Gaulois Brothers – Guitar Duo Emily Maguire – Singer songwriter Enceladus – small chamber choir Claire Stobie – Classical Violin Sue Caden – Celtic Harp Silver Ring Choir – Classical choir

For more information about Bath Hospital Radio and to listen online, visit the station’s new look website at www.bathhospitalradio.org.uk.

Soundbite has reached over 8000 patients, visitors and staff this year.

We aim to have a variety of musicians to suit most tastes, from Folk, Jazz and Blues, to Classical and World Music.

Community organisations: Superact Joy Cornock – Classical Harp and Vocals Live Music Now Julia Turner – Jass Guitar and Vocals

Soundbite Evaluation Report 2014

Emily Maguire

Marick and Seka

Sophie Johnson

The Towpath Choir

Enceladus

Joy Cornock

Amadou Diagne

Marick Baxter & Tim Petherick

Frankie’s Interactive Performances Musician in residence Frankie Simpkins sings well known oldies accompanied by her ukulele on the Older Patient Unit's. Songs are chosen to complement and enhance the atmosphere on the wards. If things are very busy and fraught then she might sing slower quieter songs to promote a calmer atmosphere, likewise, if the ward is low and down she will sing uplifting songs to lift the mood.

She takes requests and is always willing to learn a patients favourite song if she doesn’t already know it.

The music Frankie sings often promotes reminiscence and discussion so a lot of time can be spent talking to patients about their experiences and memories that were evoked through her singing.

"Thank you for playing and singing today.

Uplifting and one of the songs was a favourite of my father. We think it is a wonderful opportunity to make patients' stay more enjoyable".

Visitor on a Ward

Frankie Simpkins

Top 5 songs: When you’re smiling Oh what a beautiful morning Edelweiss Cheek to cheek When I’m cleaning windows

Glow Moment

When you’re smiling!

“I had a wonderful moment on Combe ward, a patient was participating in A Stitch in Time Workshop in the dayroom.

She was doing a wonderful drawing and was very keen on singing songs, so I got my ukulele out and we sang a few songs together. A nurse then came and asked to take some of her blood, but patient wasn’t keen, and wanted to carry on with her drawing.

I then said how about we sing whilst they do it, so I went on to sing Frank Sinatras ‘When You’re Smiling’ and the patient sang along throughout the procedure.

She grimaced when the needle went in but all the while singing along with me. It was quite a special moment as we made a lot of eye contact throughout the song and I feel it really helped support her”.

Blog post, Frankie Simpkins

Soundbite Evaluation Report 2014

Student Placements

Providing students and emerging musicians the opportunity to gain experience of music facilitation and performance in a health care setting.

"It is so welcoming when 'The Musicians are here!' is called when we arrive".

Sophie Johnson

Case Study Sophie Johnson Bath Spa University Student Music Placement 18th February – 16th May 2014 19 Sessions

Personal set aims: • To feel less nervous when performing • To gain experience of working much closer to the audience • To be able to handle reactions from the audience

5 days, 18 performances: reached 330 Patients, 690 people in the atrium

What was gained from the experience?

• How to use musical skills to play appropriate music that will make the patients happy • How to judge a situation and then choose appropriate music for the patients and their situation • To be flexible • Practice playing the piano • Improved sight reading skills • Realising how much organisation and work goes into the Soundbite programme Strengths, weaknesses and outcomes: • Went from feeling nervous to relaxed and feeling it was becoming the ‘normal’ every day thing • Knowledge about performing in a hospital and how to organise concerts • I felt playing the flute was a weakness, as it felt there was more of a barrier between us the performers and the patients • Learning music in advance so I was able to look up and smile at the patients • The piano in the day room faces the wall and is slightly frustrating as it limited interaction with patients • The placement has opened up many future opportunities • I learnt that you don’t have to play difficult music to be a professional musician

Sophie Johnson is going to continue playing the piano in the Combe Ward Day Room once a month, during their tea parties. She will also be performing with her fellow music student Megan and friends in the Woodwind Quartet.

Golden Bird Liberated Words - co-founded by videopoet, artist and writer Sarah Tremlett and novelist Lucy English, is a small local company showcasing videopoems – a creative outlet which involves a combination of text, language, sound and moving images.

As part of the team acclaimed poet and workshop leader Helen Moore and filmmaker Howard Vause, joined forces with our Musician and Artist in Residence in July to offer older patients on Combe Ward the opportunity to take part in the folklore videopoem of The Golden Bird.

Over the course of three workshops, patients and their families were invited to learn about the Golden Bird, interact with props and share stories about their experiences of a wide range of relating topics. A handful of patients were filmed and recorded with props made by children and the Artist in Residence. The results were created into a short videopoem.

The video poem was officially unveiled at the Liberated Words Bristol Poetry Festival, held at the Arnolfini, Bristol in September. The film is currently available to view via our website, or alternatively you can view it via Vimeo http://vimeo.com/104282752

Animation Music Poetry Reminscience Spoken Word Video

"Brought joy and happiness to the ward, I wish she could come every week. Many thanks".

Patient

Soundbite Evaluation Report 2014

A Stitch in Time Stitch in Time workshops are weekly textile and music reminiscence workshops held every Friday morning, between 10:30am – 12pm in Combe Ward Day Room. The workshops are led by Musician in Residence Frankie Simpkins, and Art at the Heart volunteers – Lucy Bell, Lydia Williams and Anna Hurwitz , and use our 2013 reminiscence project Reflections as inspiration.

Stitch in Time workshops are funded by Awards for All and aim to achieve the following: • Provide patients and their families opportunities to engage with a collection of memorabilia and artefacts • Offer patients and their families an opportunity to participate in the workshops, this can include a number of activities such as singing, knitting, drawing, sewing or simply storytelling • Under the supervision of Artist in Residence Edwina Bridgeman, bring together artwork created during the workshops and produce 4 multi-media panels to be hung in Combe Ward entrance • Provide volunteer and Bath Spa University student placements – with a particular focus of facilitating and supporting dementia friendly workshops • Actively contribute to the Arts and Dementia in Acute Care Forum • Collaborate with the RUH Dementia Strategy Group, The Alzheimer’s Society (Dementia Friends) the RICE Centre, and RUH Occupational Therapists • Promote and liaise with the RUH communications team, with a focus on identifying key audiences, advocates, promoting our service via word of mouth and patient referrals

Glow Moment

It’s a small world The highlight of today for me was when we discovered that two patients that had never met each other before, lived in neighbouring villages.

Over the course of about 15 minutes they went through what sounded like every resident from their respective villages saying “Do you know the Greens?”, “The Greens?

Oh yes, the ones that lived on the bridge! Do you know the Hallets?”… etc. It was amusing to hear the descriptions attached to the people from their villages; for instance one patient didn’t recognise one of the family names until the other patient said “You know, the mother fell down the Chapel steps and broke her ankle!”

Blog Post, Lydia Williams

Arts & Health South West Dementia in Acute Hospitals At any point a quarter of all acute hospital beds are occupied by people living with dementia, and improving their care in hospital continues to be a national level strategic priority.

Spurred on by the wish to continually improve care for dementia patients at the Royal United Hospital Bath, and in line with The South West standards for Dementia Care in Hospital, the arts and dementia in acute project brought together nursing staff and arts coordinators in six hospitals across the South West in an action learning set. Staff shared experiences, ideas and information. Evaluation of the projects was led by Dr Marian Naidoo from Bath University.

At any point a quarter of all acute hospital beds are occupied by people living with dementia

Our live music and reminiscence workshops have proven hugely successful, and with thanks to a recent evaluation study on The Effects of Live Music for Patients with Dementia, conducted by our previous Music Coordinator Rosie Mead, we are confident that they make a significant difference to a patients stay in hospital.

Presentations of the projects were presented at a conference at the Rayne Foundation in London last May. Work from the first phase of this project has now been developed into a digital resource for other hospitals, this can be found on the Arts and Health South West website. The project was managed by Arts & Health South West and funded through the organisation's core funding (Arts Council England) and a specific grant from the Rayne Foundation.

5x5x5=Creativity = Art at the Heart are developing the programme’s work by regularly evaluating workshops and projects that take place at the RUH. There are many different approaches to arts and health work such as the value of creativity to enhance people’s psychological, physical and social well-being, improving staff and patient relationships, and also designing and enhancing healthcare environments.

Since September 2014, 5x5x5=creativity have be mentoring Art at the Heart by helping to evaluate the participatory programme which involves Soundbite (Music programme) and Artsparks (Children’s Art programme) 5x5x5=creativity is an independent, arts-based action research organisation which supports children and young people in their exploration and expression of ideas, helping them develop creative skills for life.

Anxiety www.ahsw.org.uk/ad_forum.aspx

can be reduced with a music intervention by

29%

"It has been a privilege to mentor the creative team at the RUH and support the ongoing evaluation of their work. Already we are seeing the impacts of the artists working together creatively with children and elders. We are collecting shining examples of how the arts can really make a difference to people's experience as patients and carers".

Penny Hay Senior Lecturer in Arts Education, Bath Spa University Director of Research [5x5x5=creativity]

Soundbite Evaluation Report 2014

Plans forFigures 2015per year

2014

Forecast

Number of atrium performances

29

35

Number of ward performances

58

70

3760

4500

Lunchtime Performance Programme

Total combined audience reach

140

175

225

250

175

185

390

187

143

169

240

Musician in Residence Interactive Ward Performances 125

No. of patients reached on wards

Looking Back at 2014

No. of ward visits

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Audience reach

7 We currently reach 7 RUH wards per week

Over the last year we have had 29 atrium performances by over 80 musicians Student placements have provided 26 ward performances

240

3700

8400

Bath Spa University Music Student Placements

3

4

No. of ward visits

26

36

Audience reach

650

900

A Stitch in Time Workshops (Since September 2014) No. of workshops

13

60

Audience reach

65

420

Students are assessed as part of their degree course

Student Placements

Our lunchtime musicians have visited almost 60 wards this year

96

Provide volunteer and Bath Spa University student placements, with a particular focus of facilitating and supporting dementia friendly workshops

The Referral Programme

Bringing music to the wards and patients

Promote and liaise with the RUH communications team, with a focus on identifying key audiences, advocates, to help promote our service via word of mouth and patient referrals

Dementia Actively contribute to the Arts and Dementia in Acute Care Forum. Collaborate with the RUH Dementia Strategy Group, The Alzheimer’s Society (Dementia Friends) the RICE Centre, and Occupational Therapists

Art at the Heart of the RUH Estates and Facilities Directorate Royal United Hospital NHS Trust Combe Park Bath, BA1 3NG 01225 824 987 e: f.simpkins@nhs.net www.ruh.uk.nhs/art Follow us on twitter: @artatruh

Soundbite

Art at the Heart of the RUH