Hospital chaplain gets patients dancing

Kevin Place travels around wards with his guitar to lift spirits and encourage movement

A hospital trust's multi-faith chaplain is keeping patients moving by touring wards with his guitar, playing everything from ABBA to The Proclaimers.

Kevin Place, who works at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) plays songs and encourages patients and staff to dance and sing along.

The aim is to prevent the decline of mobility and muscle strength, particularly in patients who are bed-bound.

"I enjoy how music connects us and can reach people in a very deep way," Mr Place said.

"I've seen how moving a remembered song can be and people lighting up with joy when singing or clapping along to a popular chorus," he added.

"A hospital ward is not an easy place and a song or two can really lift the spirits of everyone, staff and visitors included, bringing smiles on difficult days."

Staff and patients are encouraged to dance and sing along

The visits are part of a programme introduced by the trust in December called "Music and Move", which was so popular, it now happens every month.

The trust said a decline in mobility and associated muscle wastage, known as hospital associated deconditioning (HAD), could occur when patients were inactive or stayed in bed all day.

Patients over the age of 80 could deteriorate as much as 10% in the first seven days of a hospital admission, the trust added.

It said staying active while patients recuperated was very important, and could reduce recovery time.