Kent Health News and Events

Every year, student volunteers from Kent Television, InQuire Media and CSR FM organise a fundraiser for a local charity. This year sees a return of the tradition but on a larger scale with a week of events kicking off the campaign set to last the remainder of the academic year – raising money for local Special Needs Advisory and Activities Project (SNAAP).

From 1-5 December, the students will be going far and wide to drum up support from the Canterbury community including students, local residents, businesses and organisations.

Furthermore, on Friday 5 December from 12noon to 12midnight, the volunteers will be taking over one of the campus bars for a 12-hour live show with games, entertainment and live music provided.

To donate:

• Visit our JustGiving page 
• Or, text SNAP49 followed by your amount to 70070.

Follow the campaign on:

• Facebook 
• Twitter – #SNAAPintoAction

For more information: email d.packer@canterburymedia.net

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Daniel is raising money for the hospital, one of Europe’s leading cancer treatment and research centres, where his dad received treatment.

Daniel says: ‘The fact that, 18 years later, my dad is living a happy and healthy life is a real testament to the work of the Christie. This will be my first marathon and, although I’m a regular runner (and reasonably fit), it is a massive challenge both physically and mentally. Nonetheless, I’m driven by a determination to give something back to the Christie, for the work that they do for people like my dad.’

Daniel, based in the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, has been a runner for the past two years. As part of his marathon preparations, he is running around 30 miles a week – including running to work from his home in Wingham.

To make a donation to support Daniel’s marathon run, or keep track of his progress, click on his Just Giving pages.

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University psychologist Dr David Wilkinson is working with hospital clinicians and ward staff on a project to find a new way of helping patients recover from brain damage by using live music performance.

The collaboration, between academics, clinicians and musicians, was recognised with the runner-up prize in the category for Outstanding Service Innovation at this year’s East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Award Night.

The innovative project took place on the Harvey Neuro-Rehabilitation Ward at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury. The patients, whose conditions include acquired brain injury, low awareness state, tumour and MS, attended twice-weekly interactive live music concerts over a six-week period, performed by professional musicians. The concerts were conducted in the ward’s day room and lasted one hour, including classical, jazz, world and folk music.

The project found that patient and staff wellbeing was markedly increased following the live performances, with additional gains evident in cognitive function. From a practical perspective, the project also confirmed the feasibility of conducting projects of this unconventional nature on busy in-patient wards – an important prerequisite for further study.

Dr Wilkinson, of the University’s School of Psychology, said the innovation award acknowledged the profound effects that music therapy has on patient and staff experience, and he has now set his sights on a larger-scale study to determine the optimal ‘recipe’ for live music therapy. His longer-term ambition is to extend the therapy to other patient groups resident on different hospital wards.

Dr Wilkinson is working on the project with Dr Mohamed Sakel, Director/Consultant Neuro-Rehabilitation at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust andLive Music Now – the UKs leading musicians’ development and outreach organisation.

For more information contact Dr David Wilkinson.

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