UHNM Charity is celebrating its 30th anniversary year by continuing to bring music, dance, theatre and art into hospital wards and departments across the North Midlands.

Through its Arts for Health programme, the charity has been working with performers, artists and creatives from across the region to create uplifting moments for patients, visitors and staff at Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital.

Recent visits from groups including Kitsch n Sync, FRONTLINEdance, Hocus Pocus Theatre, Sonia Sabri Company and Sam and Faith from Mubu Music have transformed ward environments and created memorable experiences for those spending time in hospital.

Patients, visitors and colleagues have shared positive feedback following the sessions.

One UHNM colleague on Ward 14 at County Hospital said: “I’ve never seen that patient smile.”

The same patient later described the performance as “worth coming in for.”

A visitor on Ward 81 at Royal Stoke said the entertainment had “cheered the place up”, while another added: “That lady is really poorly and she was joining in and it cheered everyone up. We should try and do it more often.”

Following a Hocus Pocus Theatre session with dialysis patients, one attendee said: “It changed the atmosphere of the ward.”

Music performances also created emotional moments for patients across the Trust.

During a performance of Fly Me to the Moon by FRONTLINEdance on Ward 81, one patient sang and danced along, telling staff: “I love this song.”

Another patient on Maternity Ward 205 described a live strings performance by Sam and Faith as “nice”.

Creative workshops have also supported staff wellbeing. Following a pottery session with Potter in Residence artist Alice, Sadaf from Organisational Development said: “Can I just say that it was the most enjoyable thing I have done in a long time and would love to have some more sessions, please.”

As part of the charity’s anniversary celebrations, local Stoke-on-Trent businesses also worked together to design, produce and gift commemorative “Baby Pebbles” to babies born during UHNM Charity’s 30th year.

The charity has also supported artwork installations across hospital spaces, including commissioned glass artwork displayed at the new Community Diagnostic Centre.

One visitor praised the installation, saying it brought “a little brightness to an otherwise tiring day.”

Take a look at some of the amazing work that the arts programme does around Royal Stoke and County Hospital in this video