Hospital panto is live-streamed to patients

‘Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood’ was filmed and screened live within wards and services at the main three sites of the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) Trust, including Worksop.

And thanks to the professional input of the Cast theatre in Doncaster, the show was a real festive treat for patients facing up to the challenge of spending Christmas in hospital.

Free wifi alloowed the panto to be screened in day rooms and activity rooms within hospital wards, and also directly to the phones, tablets and laptops of patients.

Richard Parker, chief executive of DBTH, said: “For the second year running, I an delighted we were able to work with Cast to bring some festive cheer to our patients.

“Most patients would prefer to be comfortable at home at Christmas, rather than in a hospital bed, so we hope the panto created a bit of festive spirit to cheer up those in our care.

“I want to thank our partners at Cast and the talented panto performers, as well as the IT team at the trust who worked hard to make sure this could happen.”

Deboreah Rees, director at Cast, said: “After the amazing feedback we had from last year’s live stream, we couldn’t wait to bring it back on this year.

“Christmas is a time for families to come together, and we believe the magic of a panto is something everyone deserves to experience.

“Live streaming is one of the ways Cast is working towards becoming as accessible as possible, and patnering up with DBTH has been a real success.”

Extending the festivities to members of DBTH’s whole team, the panto was also screened to more than 130 off-duty staff and their children in the Lecture Theatre at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, raising £200 for charity in the process.

Work has already started on producing a third panto for the hospitals next year.