Paintings in Hospitals partners with Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals: installing art from the Paintings in Hospitals collection in the Ashford hospital Outpatients unit, to inspire better health and wellbeing for all.

• Paintings in Hospitals has a longstanding relationship with Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals Trust, but this is the first time the Ashford hospital has taken artwork from the Paintings in Hospitals collection.

• The installation was championed by Dr Peter Wilkinson, Consultant Cardiologist, who has been at Ashford and St Peter’s for over 35 years.

• The artwork has been installed in the Outpatients department as part of the Trust’s Healing Arts programme, which aims to introduce more visual art, music, and theatre into the hospitals and to improve architecture and green space across the Trust.

• It is thought the presence of nature, landscapes, and art in all forms in healthcare settings can bring a number of benefits, can aid recovery, help to reduce the length of stay for patients and positively impact the wellbeing of staff, patients and visitors.

Dr Peter Wilkinson and Sandra Bruce-Gordon, Chief Executive, Paintings in Hospitals, Marigolds and Chair, Pauline Vincent

Dr Wilkinson, a keen advocate of creating a healing atmosphere in the hospital, said:

“My informal link with Paintings in Hospitals started many years ago (I suspect over 30) when I was a relatively new consultant based in those days just at Ashford Hospital. I remember going to a place near Regents Park to see what was on offer. I was shown some paintings and it was suggested that I put a sample in the back of my car and take them back to Ashford. When I protested to the two ladies who were in charge that they did not know me, I was told that was not a problem! I must have taken around 15-20 paintings back to the hospital where I displayed them on some tables in the education centre and asked staff to pick what they wanted for their department. I think they were a bit shocked as no one had done this before. It’s wonderful to have a partnership with Paintings in Hospitals and to see this new installation of art in our Outpatients department, for all to enjoy”.

Sandra Bruce-Gordon, Chief Executive of Paintings in Hospitals said:

“Attending a hospital as a patient or a relative can be a stressful experience and both art and nature, can sooth a troubled mind. Staff too can benefit from art in a healthcare environment, both as observers and by creating art. I’m delighted to see this installation in what happens to be my local hospital. Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Paintings in Hospitals over many years, to the benefit of all.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Daphne Power

Marketing and Communications Manager, Paintings in Hospitals

M: 07778716175

E: dp@paintingsinhospitals.org.uk

Rose Winn

E: winn.rose@nhs.net

NOTE TO EDITORS:

ABOUT PAINTINGS IN HOSPITALS

Paintings in Hospitals

Paintings in Hospitals is a national charity that uses Visual Art for health and wellbeing. We provide artwork loans and creative activities for people in healthcare, community, and social care settings. We hold the UK’s only national art collection specifically assembled for the purpose, with over 3,800 artworks from well-known artists such as Antony Gormley, Bridget Riley, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Blackadder, Yinka Shonibare and Jake and Dinos Chapman. Collaborating with local partners we help people and communities meet the challenges around ageing, loneliness, long-term health conditions, poor mental health and socio-economic disadvantage. Participants in our art loan programme and associated art projects engage in every aspect, from choosing artworks for display, to meaningfully engaging with skilled art practitioners to get the best from their experience.

The charity is recognised by the Arts Council as a key organisation in the field of creative health.

To view a short film about Paintings in Hospitals please see here: Power of a Painting

www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk

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@artinhospitals

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ABOUT ST PETER’S AND ASHFORD HOSPITALS

Established in 1998 from the merger of Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals, the Trust has been on a long journey of development and improvement to its current position as the largest provider of acute hospital services to Surrey residents. It became a Foundation Trust in December 2010. Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in the boroughs of Runnymede, Spelthorne, Woking and parts of Elmbridge, Hounslow, Surrey Heath and beyond. The Trust employs around 4,400 individual members of staff.