Thanks to the hospital charity MediCinema, patients at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary are enjoying film favourites from the comfort of their beds.
MediCinema have teamed up with Hospedia, the leading supplier of hospital bedside screens, and Non-Theatrical film distributors Filmbankmedia, along with a number of major Theatrical film distributors, to bring complimentary films straight to patients, the majority of whom are on their own on the wards, unable to receive visitors due to COVID-19 restrictions. Normally the RVI’s patients are able to visit MediCinema’s in-hospital cinema but it is currently closed, just as all cinemas are shut.
Being in hospital can be isolating and frightening – especially for our young patients in the Great North Children’s Hospital. Watching a film can bring a sense of normality and provide a much-needed escape from the wards, and their situation – for just for a couple of hours – which is especially important at this time.
As Director nursing and Children’s services at Newcastle Hospitals, Helga Charters explains: “Having the MediCinema in our hospital has provided the most wonderful opportunity for children, young people and adults within our care the chance to have some welcome ‘escapism’ from the treatment they are all undergoing.
“During this current difficult time our patients are not able to attend the MediCinema. We are however incredibly grateful that our patients can view new releases daily at their bedside via the Hospedia telephone service.
“The feedback from children, families and adult patients has been so incredibly positive especially in light of visiting restrictions for so many. Being able to immerse into a different world for a short time as a ‘Superhero’ or laugh at beautifully heart-warming and funny film about a bear, is so beneficial for wellbeing and recovery.”
Some of the feedback has been received has been:
“I love watching the films with my mummy in my room” (Patient)
“Watching these films takes my mind away from what is currently happening both in terms of my treatment and current situation” (Patient)
“This has made such a difference to my child during treatment, I am very grateful” (Mother)
“Whilst watching Toy Story I gave the children some Toy Story badge making activity packs, the children loved watching the film whilst making the badges” (Play specialist Staff).
MediCinema have been working closely with NHS Trusts for 20 years to give patients and their families the opportunity to do something that feels a bit normal – to visit a cinema and enjoy the shared experience of watching the latest release together.
On a recent survey of MediCinema visitors, 93% said it helped them feel less isolated and 92% said it helped to reduce anxiety and stress.
Kat Mason, MediCinema’s CEO said: “Unfortunately, we can now all relate in some way to the feelings of loneliness, isolation and worry that patients in hospital feel.
While our core cinema services are not currently running, and in-person interactions with friends and family are so much harder, we are so pleased to be able to offer patients on the wards some support and distraction by taking some great films straight to their bedsides instead.”
On this new bedside channel, each week in four of the six hospitals in which MediCinema operates, patients have been able to watch films such as The Lion King (2019), Toy Story 4, A Dog’s Journey and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu at no cost thanks to Hospedia, Filmbankmedia and their distributor partners which include Disney, Warner Brothers, eOne, Sony, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures.
