An application was made to purchase several pieces of art for Teddington Memorial Hospital in order to enhance the environment for patients, staff and the public.
The funds were used to purchase 30 varied pieces of art, ranging from original paintings and commissioned graphic design, to historic photographs and prints of the area.
Visitors to the hospital can see the artwork on display in many different areas of the hospital, including the inpatient unit, outpatients waiting area, the hospital’s day room, the upstairs rehab corridor and the pharmacy waiting area.
A priority of the project was to display artwork within Pamela Bryant Ward, which hosts up to 50 in patients undergoing rehabilitation - many of whom suffer from dementia - in order to improve their experience and stay at the hospital in what can often be a distressing and confusing time for our elderly patients.
All the items purchased for the collection were carefully selected by our patients and staff with the aim of enhancing the hospital’s environment. Patients often feel apprehensive when visiting hospitals so we felt it was important to create a calming and attractive environment through art.
Local artist Jill Storey said: “Art has a profound effect on patients’ experience while - it makes hospitals less institutional for patients. Much of the artwork here is of local scenes that will be familiar to local people, so visitors can really relate to the views as they are places they will know well.”
Betsy Lewis-Holmes from The Arts Service at Orleans House Gallery said: “Clinical research published in 2004 by the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has shown that art within healthcare environments provides a reduction of anxiety, stress and depression for patients, staff and visitors.”