Online concerts performed for patients in local hospital

A pair of professional musicians have been providing free online concerts for inpatients in hospital to entertain those who might be missing their families and other visitors as they recuperate.

Edmund, a violinist and George, a pianist, are providing the concerts through face time so that the patients at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals can interact with the musicians.

Edmund has previously played for the patients receiving Intensive Care in person, something he has done since he was at school. He also played for the Trust live last Christmas. The musician started playing for patients on social media about in May and since then he and George have performed several times for patients and hospital staff.

Edmund and George said in a joint statement: “When the current crisis happened we thought that not only are musicians not able to do what they love – to perform, but also that the NHS would be under a tremendous amount of strain. We have been great supporters of the NHS and knew from experience how music could positively affect people.

“We came up with the idea of virtual concerts through using video communication apps for teaching our instrumental pupils and thought it was a great way to play to hospital wards. We wanted to thank NHS staff for all of the amazing work they are doing, as well as giving patients who currently can’t have any visitors our personal form of communication – music.” ​

Fran Taylor, Clinical Educator and Sister on Bassetlaw Intensive Care Unit (ICU) said: “The patients really enjoy interacting with them, and the music has a calming effect – on ITU we can see the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate coming down as a result of the effect of listening to music. The musicians also enjoy playing for the nurses as a thank you for our work in the current situation.”

Edmund and George have now set up a Facebook page and website and have a database of musicians who are keen to play for patients and nurses via Skype. You can get in touch with them by emailing thankyounhsmusic@gmail.com.

 

Photo credit: Photo by Jules Hunter at Philter Photography