With cinemas about to re-open, research undertaken by the charity MediCinema shows that a visit to one of its in-hospital cinemas has a significant positive effect on the mental health of those going to see a film. The effect of the shared experience of film improves feeling of wellbeing, reduces isolation, and gives people a sense of normality:
93% said a visit to the MediCinema reduced isolation
92% said a visit to the MediCinema reduced anxiety and stress
92% said a visit to the MediCinema improves wellbeing
96% gives people in hospital a sense of normality
82% said a visit to the MediCinema helped them connect with others
MediCinema is a charity which improves the wellbeing and quality of life of NHS patients and their families through the power of the shared cinema experience and the magic of film. It builds and runs cinemas in hospitals equipped with space for beds, wheelchairs, and medical equipment. Its services help to improve emotional, mental, and physical health, reducing feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stress, and increasing patient resilience.
While people across the country are looking forward to being able to visit their local cinemas after such a long time, the charity MediCinema continues to reopen and run its cinemas for hospital patients. While its cinemas were suspended in March 2020 just before public cinemas, some have been running socially-distanced screenings again from August 2020 and throughout this last lockdown – the only cinemas to be operating throughout.
At the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, the MediCinema continued to run screenings throughout the serious Winter wave of COVID-19 and the third lockdown.
