Patients and staff worked with Poet Pat Winslow and Visual artist Dionne Freeman to create the designs, which have been strategically placed to block out excess sunlight which didn’t help with therapy.
The project was funded by Didcot League of Friends and supported by Creating with Care’s Artist in Residence project.
The displays are bright and colourful with a nature theme. One picture is a poem written over a boat surrounded by flowers with another over different coloured leaves. The flowers are bright yellow and pink with a butterfly and trees in the background.
Pat Winslow, a poet in residence who led the project said: “I don’t think we should ever underestimate the power of the natural world to make people feel happier in themselves. Add to that the magic of art and poetry and the dynamic of dance and music, and you have something that is quintessentially human.
“Emotions are given colours and ideas are given images and shapes. Humans are communicators. Never underestimate a human!”
Kate Nicholas, physiotherapist at Didcot community hospital, said: “Didcot Hospital has glorious sunlight into the gym during high summer. However, we found the sun affected patients during mobility practice on the parallel bars.
“Our patients worked alongside the arts therapists and therapy team to come up with a design and poem for the stained-glass film that now covers the window. Our patients are now enjoying the beautiful window with its colour and words. It has become a real discussion point during our gym sessions and has brought the beauty of the outdoors inside.”
If you are interested in joining the League of Friends please email deborah.smethers@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or call 01865 904448 and ask for Deborah.
Published: 22 November 2021