Whipps Cross Dementia Awareness Week

THE WARDS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC 31/05/2016

The wards at Whipps Cross Hospital are alive with music thanks to a partnership with the famed London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and Vital Arts.Widely acclaimed to be one of the world’s finest orchestras, members of the LSO are spending one afternoon each month entertaining older patients during their hospital stay to improve their experience.The sessions give patients the opportunity to sing along to musical classics, discuss their favourite music and get to know their bedside neighbours.At a visit on 18 May 2016 an LSO clarinettist entertained patients and staff at afternoon ward tea parties, where family members could also get specialist advice to mark Dementia Awareness Week 2016.Lawrence Muggeridge, who was with his mother Maria at the tea party on Syringa Ward, said: “The music has been really excellent and has brought a lot of joy to people. My mother is 92 and has dementia, but she has been out of bed dancing and singing with the nurses saying it was just like when she danced with friends at parties held during the war.”Sandra Favari, customer care facilitator at Barts Health NHS Trust, explained: “I am very grateful to the London Symphony Orchestra. Their visits really make a difference and improve the afternoon for many of our patients.“The wonder of music is that it has a special ability to bring people together. You actually see patients breathe more calmly, relaxing to the rhythm. We’ve had fantastic comments from patients, family members and staff.”Working with the hospital’s ward staff and specialists in dementia care, the musical tours are organised by Vital Arts, arts organisation for Barts Health NHS Trust and LSO Discovery, the Orchestra’s community and music education programme which sees LSO players work in local communities around East London reaching some 60,000 people per year.