A choir has joined a national campaign to help bring a smile to the faces of patients at Ipswich Hospital by singing at their bedsides.
The Ipswich Hospital Community Choir has joined forces with the Kissing it Better campaign, launched by Jill Fraser in 2013 with the aim of enhancing patients’ experience during their hospital stay.
Once a month, members of the choir will head to Ipswich Hospital to sing in different wards to patients and their relatives, with a songbook encompassing classics from years gone by including Daisy Daisy; Oh What a Beautiful Morning; My Favourite Things and a Spoonful of Sugar.
Anne Pope, choir member and administrator, said: “When Jill approached the choir to see if they would be prepared to sing in the wards there was no doubt that the answer would be yes.
“The songs, chosen by the choir, are purposefully upbeat and immediately recognisable, especially to the elderly patients who very much appreciate hearing familiar sounds which spark happy memories for them from years gone by.
“The choir members themselves were moved to see how a small effort on their part gave such joy to the patients.
“They all say it’s a very rewarding experience...to do something that we enjoy but also give pleasure to patients who are elderly or sick in hospital.
“Patients say to us please don’t go, please sing some more. They are just so excited. It’s such a small effort on our part to give a real big joy to patients, staff and relatives. It’s incredible what something so small can do to lighten somebody’s day.”
Choir member Sian Mullane added: “This, for me, is what being in the community choir is all about.”
The choir, which has more than 50 members, runs the Kissing it Better sessions on a Wednesday night, from 5.30pm-6pm, once a month. It usually involves around 15 of the choir members each time.
The hospital allocates a ward for them to perform to on the night.
Mrs Pope said that she hoped to increase the number of KIB sessions it ran at the hospital.
For more information on Kissing it Better, visit www.kissingitbetter.co.uk, and for Ipswich Hospital Community Choir, visit www.ipshospchoir.org.uk/
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