Literature

The Trusts arts program air believes that art in hospital has a purpose in distracting and where possible reducing patient anxiety. The priority of the program is to offer greatest access to its audience by offering a varied and multi access pointed programme of high quality locally relevant art works.

The Poetry in the Waiting room publication was one of the first initiatives to come from the arts team, the first edition launched in 2007. It is a project consistently well received by patients and staff. Poetry in the Waiting Room has been particularly successful in providing access to the arts program in to areas where visual arts or performance is not appropriate, for example Accident & Emergency, waiting rooms and acute ward areas.

The Poetry Leaflet also provides a point of access and distraction to those patients, visitors and staff who prefer literature to visual arts and meets with the programmes intention of offering a range of access and distraction points suitable for the vast range of individuals passing through the two hospital sites.

“I think this is an excellent initiative – a really great way to not only reach out with poetry to those who may not normally read it, but also comfort, distract and pass time for those in the waiting room …”