Creative activity booklets

Artlink has produced a series of free artist-designed publications for patients to provide entertainment and help assuage boredom. These can be collected by staff or patients from the Charity Hub in the West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

For children

The Incredible Hospital Comic

Created in collaboration with The Phoenix comic to support young 8-12 year old patients coming into hospital for surgery and filled with lots of useful information as well as fabulous comic strips and games.

Things to Colour and Do

An activity sheet created by artist Hollie Swain for children aged 5-8 years old

For older people

A Walk Through Nature

An activity booklet for older patients and those with dementia, produced in collaboration with Oxford Health Arts Partnership and Creative Dementia Arts Network

For everyone

Write Read Puzzle

Acompendium of delights to entertain you, designed by artists

Colour Doodle Draw

A colouring book for adults, designed by artists

Boredom Buster

Newspaper produced by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust with Culture Weston

My Dancing Days

An elderly patient in a chair by a hospital bed is encouraged to dance by a young woman, holding his hands

This programme of visual arts and music bedside activities for patients on the John Radcliffe Hospital trauma wards was developed by visual artist Tiffany Black and dance/movement practitioner Angela Conlan.

Their work focused on working with older patients, many of whom had dementia, and could feel isolated in single rooms.

The artists' approach was to use the arts to engage with patients and find out more about their interests, musical tastes and personal stories.

A detailed evaluation was commissioned from Angeli Vaid of Oxford Arts Consultants. She found the sessions increased levels of happiness, relaxation and distraction from boredom for patients. When sessions ended staff observed a positive impact on patients in terms of a lighter mood for up to two hours afterwards.

Particular groups benefitted most - those with dementia, those needing motivation to do physiotherapy exercise, and those not connected to the wider world though visits from family and friends.

They should have this on all the wards - it really cheers you up... I think what you are doing is wonderful - keep up the good workPatient comments on My Dancing Days.

Origami workshops

Young couple in a hospital room smile and hold their origami flowers

Origami workshops with patients to alleviate boredom, stress and anxiety were led by Lizzie Burns across five departments in our three Oxford hospitals, funded by The Big Lottery through Origami Pulse.

Doing something with your hands calms your mind... I felt relaxed, distracted from my environment... made me feel so much better... took my mind off everything else... helped with endless waiting.Patient comments on origami workshops