With cinemas hopefully set to re-open soon, research* has shown that a visit to an in-hospital MediCinema really does have a significant positive effect on patients’ mental health.
The Royal Victoria Infirmary currently houses one of six Medicinemas throughout the country and while films were suspended due to the pandemic last year, it is now providing socially-distanced screenings once again for inpatients.
Now a recent nationwide survey of patients and families has found that the shared experience of film improves feeling of wellbeing, reduces isolation, and gives people a sense of normality:
93% said a visit to the MediCinema reduced isolation
92% said a visit to the MediCinema reduced anxiety and stress
92% said a visit to the MediCinema improves wellbeing
96% gives people in hospital a sense of normality
82% said a visit to the MediCinema helped them connect with others
The services of Medicinema can help to improve emotional, mental, and physical health, reducing feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stress, and increasing patient resilience.
Helga Charters, Associate Director of Children and Young People at Newcastle Hospitals, said:
“Having the MediCinema open for screenings at the RVI has been a really important part of care and therapeutic wellbeing for our patients. I can see the immediate beneficial effect it has on our patients’ mental health having had the opportunity to leave the ward, immerse themselves in a film, meet other people and be stimulated by something other than the hospital environment.
“During COVID it has been even more important in light of strict visitor restrictions and the increased anxiety and isolation this can have. I’ve seen the smiles and lift in moods visiting the MediCinema has had on patients and that stays with them when they go back to the wards.”
Kat Mason, MediCinema Chief Executive said: “Over this past year we have all felt the isolating effects of staying at home and not seeing friends and family. We are all raring to get back to the cinema and to share a movie on the big screen with our loved ones, and this is no different whether you are in hospital or reconnecting as lockdown relaxes. Many patients who visit our cinemas to watch a film are clear about its effect on their mental health and wellbeing, having to spend so much time isolated on the wards, especially over the past year. The power of cinema – sharing a film in the company of others – is very real.”
*This research was carried out from Summer 2017-Winter 2019, across five MediCinema sites with 1229 people
Patient quotes:
- Mum Natasha: “Rosie can be quite anxious in hospital sometimes, but after that MediCinema film screening she was on cloud nine.”
- Jack, 16 years old: “I want to say thank you to MediCinema for giving us both the opportunity to look forward to something. The whole experience has made me realise how important a patient’s mental wellbeing is when they are in hospital – and MediCinema was a good focus for the day. Without it, every day of my stay would have been pretty much the same. It made a huge difference to my hospital experience and really cheered both me and my Mum up.”
