Cinema opens in hospital's children's unit

The cinema's seating space is flexible and can be moved to allow for patients' beds to be brought in

Bradford Royal Infirmary has become the first hospital in Yorkshire to have a cinema installed on one of its wards.

The big screen has been added to Ward 30 in the Children's Inpatient Unit.

The £40,000 facility has been provided by Together for Cinema and Knaresborough-based home cinema specialists Clever Association.

Together for Cinema founder Ian Morrish said: "We all know a couple of hours in front of good movie cuddled up with mum or the family unit is great, it's really therapeutic."

Mr Morrish said installing the big screen meant children who were on the ward for a long time would not miss out on a trip to the cinema.

"Bringing the cinema facility - the big screen, great audio, subtle lighting - into a safe, medical space like a hospital is really important," he said.

"The kids can't just pop out to go to the cinema, absolutely not."

Hospital play specialist Cath Piggott added: "Some children are here for quite a long time.

"Some can be in and out, but some are here for two or three weeks or a bit more.

"The cinema will be a great escape for them."

Ian Morrish found the Community Interest Company (CIC) Together for Cinema in 2003

Holly's three-year-old daughter, Isabella, is among the patients currently on the ward awaiting an operation.

The 22-year-old, from Allerton, said: "It's a better environment for watching films than in her bed.

"In a room it's all the same four walls, so it's pretty boring, and she also associates it with getting the medical treatments, that obviously stress her out quite a lot.

"She's not receiving any treatment when she's in the cinema room so it's more of an immersive environment, and gives her a break.

"I think it takes some of the stress off,of trying to keep a child entertained during long stays.

"It's also more relaxing to watch a film as a parent in a different room."

Together for Cinema worked with the Bradford Hospitals Charity on the project along with playground equipment supplier Tigerplay, who designed the cinema space.

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