Hospital patients are to benefit from regular music therapy for a further two years.

OPUS Music has been visiting patients at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, for several years.

Jo Thornley, community involvement manager at Sherwood Hospitals Trust, saw the positive impact its musicians made on patients, carers, and staff.

She applied to NHS Charities Together for a post-Covid recovery grant, and now OPUS will continue visits for a further two years, also training staff to give them the skills and confidence to include music as part of their daily patient activities.

Jo said: “I’m excited to build on our partnership and continue to look at opportunities to make music a key part of our hospitals, boosting the morale of patients, colleagues, and visitors.”

To watch a video filmed by the trust following OPUS Music and the impact they have on its patients click here. 

OPUS, whose mission is to use music as a healing tool, will regularly visit wards to make music for, and with, patients and families to improve their health and wellbeing.

Constantina Samara, of Mansfield, is one patient who benefited from the music.

She was on her fifth day in hospital after having her first baby at King’s Mill when OPUS visited.

“OPUS was my lifeline when in hospital,” she said. “What should have been a straightforward delivery ended up as a week and a half stay, and I was experiencing a very low moment.

“I heard this beautiful music in the background and thought I was making it up. Then I saw them through my window and thanked them both.

“They asked permission to come into the room and carry on singing. I’ll never forget that moment as they sang to my baby. I think the first song he will sing is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

“I can’t thank them enough for the change they made in my life on that day. Their music wasn’t just two people playing, it was a healing moment for me and my baby.

“It became a source of hope and happiness, and they gave me the strength to carry on with my journey.”

Nick Cutts, chief executive of OPUS Music, said: “It’s a delight to work alongside the varied teams of healthcare professionals at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, who together share our vision for a musical hospital.

“By exploring and learning together, we can develop multiple new approaches to integrating music into care.”