Councillor has art in right place

Councillor Lyndsay Pitchley, who is the mental health champion for Rotherham, paid a visit to The Woodlands unit for older people, which is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH).

The visit was prompted by an art exhibition, ARTiculate, which displayed work created by Rotherham people with mental health issues, including older people from The Woodlands and adult mental health service users from nearby Swallownest Court, also run by RDaSH.

Coun Pitchley asked if she could come and see The Woodlands unit, discuss the work there and look in on some of the music sessions they currently have running every Monday.

There are also drama workshops on offer later on in the week.

The Woodlands is a state-of-the-art unit based in the grounds of Rotherham Hospital and was specifically designed to provide inpatient services for older people with mental health problems.

Christine Webb, RDaSH modern matron older people’s mental health at The Woodlands, said: “The Woodlands’ involvement with the ARTiculate project has been a fantastic experience and one from which we have learnt so much more about therapeutic activities and their benefits for patients in our care.”

“The current project with arts therapist Matt Laurie has been almost ‘awakening’; some of our patients with the most complex needs have willingly engaged in the music sessions and the therapeutic effects have lasted for some time afterwards.”

“Patients have interacted with each other, continued humming, singing and smiling, and appeared more relaxed.”