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A lunchtime treat at the Horton for Dementia Action Week

21/05/2019
This article is more than four years old.

Healthcare partners came together this week to showcase how they're helping patients during Dementia Action Week.

On Tuesday 21 May 2019 there was a special concert in the restaurant at the Horton General Hospital aimed at an older audience as part of the Banbury Age Friendly scheme. Musician Kate Wilkinson serenaded diners with performances of songs from musicals and classical arias before moving onto the wards to entertain patients.

Supported by Oxford Hospitals Charity's 'Artlink' programme, the concert was part of a regular arts and music programme across the Trust. The programme includes visual arts, performance, music and literature to make our hospitals welcoming and attractive environments, to help to reduce stress and anxiety, and to engage and bring pleasure to patients, visitors and staff.

Ruth Charity, Arts Co-Ordinator at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This concert was a real pleasure. There's a wealth of research showing that the arts can provide real, measurable health benefits to patients. Studies have shown that music and the visual arts can reduce the length of a patient's stay in hospital, decrease levels of depression and reduce their perception of pain.

"We're very lucky to have a variety of musicians who perform at our hospitals on a regular basis, including fortnightly concerts on our Geratology wards to help create a calmer atmosphere for our older patients."

Kate Wilkinson said: "I love coming to the hospitals to perform. The patients really seem to love the performances on the wards - even when they're bed-bound, they'll wave their arms and join in with the singalong. "I Could Have Danced All Night" is a particular favourite!

"The staff always thanks me and say the wards are a lot calmer after the performances. I've even had some patients say that if they could have a show every day, they wouldn't need medicine. I think it does a lot to raise people's spirits and gives people a really welcome break."

Pictured left to right: Helen Fountain of Age UK Oxfordshire, Gayle Williams of Oxford Hospitals Charity and Kate Wilkinson.