One of the country’s leading specialist cancer hospitals and a world-renowned music organisation have joined forces to improve the health and wellbeing of people with cancer in Merseyside.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Philharmonic have today announced a music partnership programme, a year-long collaboration between the two organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of people with cancer with interactive music-making sessions and exclusive performances on site and online for patients and staff at the cancer centre’s three hospitals throughout Merseyside.
The collaboration has been funded by donations to The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, the Trust’s dedicated charity which is committed to enhancing the experience and environment for patients going through cancer treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s three hospital sites.
The partnership aims to improve mental wellbeing and provide opportunities for entertainment, creativity and social connections for those going through cancer treatment, and provide training for staff on how the overall health of patients can be improved through music.
To celebrate the partnership, patients and staff at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool, the Trust’s flagship hospital in the city centre, were treated to a performance in the hospital’s vast atrium by some musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for the delight of those waiting for outpatient appointments.
Sam Wade is the Arts Coordinator for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. She said: “We’re so pleased to be collaborating with the acclaimed Liverpool Philharmonic, bringing together two important and prominent organisations within the city for the benefit of the local community.
“This is an amazing investment in the mental health and wellbeing of our patients and our staff. We know that the arts, whether that’s music, painting, poetry or theatre, can help to distract and entertain patients as well as helping them express themselves at a stressful time in their lives.”
Peter Garden, Executive Director – Performance and Learning at Liverpool Philharmonic, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the renowned The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust. Our team and musicians have been working with the NHS using music to support patient and staff wellbeing for 14 years, primarily through a longstanding partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and other local NHS providers. We are thrilled to be extending this work to improve the wellbeing of patients going through cancer treatment and the wonderful NHS staff supporting them, and are grateful to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre for their commitment to this new venture.”
The partnership was made possible by The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity and supported by a grant from NHS Charities Together along with the Big Give Christmas Challenge and other donations.
Katrina Bury, Head of The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said: “The money we raise supports a number of initiatives throughout the Trust, including research, innovations in care, investment in technology and improving our patient’s experience and environment, making our hospitals the best place to receive cancer care in the region.
“We’re so thankful to our supporters and I’m really looking forward to the benefits this project with the Liverpool Philharmonic will bring to our patients and staff over the coming year.”
Watch a video of the performance from the Liverpool Philharmonic here.