The in-patients at East Lothian Community Hospital have been enjoying weekly gentle dance and movement classes, thanks to the team at Dance Base, in partnership with NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts.
Supporting rehabilitation, recovery, wellbeing and mindfulness, gentle movement classes are being offered to in-patients at East Lothian Community Hospital on a weekly basis. While the majority of the session is seated, patients have the opportunity to stand where appropriate, and participate in a range of mobility exercises, uplifting music and tactile materials for engaging in a sensory experience.
A first for East Lothian Community Hospital, the sessions are led by dance and movement instructors from Dance Base, Edinburgh. Participants are supported during the session by nursing staff from the in-patient wards, and the weekly classes are becoming an incredibly popular item on the in-patient’s activity calendar.
After a session, one of the participants claimed, “that was fabulous, so much fun.”
Supporting nursing staff too have praised the Dance Base team, commented on the positive impact the classes are having on patient’s wellbeing, “I haven’t seen her smile so much in days. It like a spark has been reignited in her. It’s wonderful.”
Katherine Rothman, Dance Base’s Health, Wellbeing, and Engagement Manager comments, “Our dance classes offer an opportunity to be creative and playful while exploring different ways of moving. Dance Base’s dance artists and volunteers have enjoyed being responsive to each group member while dancing together. There have been sparks of magic, both big and small, throughout the sessions, and these groups have been a testament to the power of dance for physical and mental health. We’re so pleased to be a part of it.”
Chief Officer for East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership Fiona Wilson comments, “Enabling patients to participate in rehabilitative exercise and gentle movement is so important to aid recovery, improve balance, muscle strength and overall mental wellbeing. It also brings patients together, to enjoy social interactions and for a short while, forget they are in a hospital. The joy that is felt in the room is abundant. We are so incredibly grateful to the Blythe Trust, NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts and the team at Dance Base for bringing this uplifting experience to the hospital.”
Len McCaffer, Tonic Arts Programme Manager at NHS Lothian Charity, said: “Our Tonic Arts programme aims to enhance the patient, staff and visitor experience across NHS Lothian though creativity and the arts. This partnership with Dance Base is a perfect example of how the arts can contribute to rehabilitation, wellbeing, and a sense of community within a healthcare setting and it’s so lovely to see the joy and positive impact these gentle movement classes are already having on patients.”
Notes:
This partnership with Dance Base has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Blythe Family Trust, as part of several key projects designed to significantly enhance the experience of patients and their families, with a particular focus on those in our inpatient wards who require more specialist and long-term care. These projects address a variety of needs, from improving physical and mental wellbeing to fostering social interaction and a sense of community within the hospital.