CW+ MediCinema celebrates Black History Month at the Trust with special screenings for patients

Patients were invited to join the hospital’s Black History Month celebrations last month. They went along to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s CW+ MediCinema to see special screenings that reflected on Black history and storytelling.

Khadijara—a patient at the time—watched Hidden Figures, a drama of the true story of three African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race, confronting racial and gender inequality. She said the film was inspiring because she hadn’t seen a film like this for a long time. She spoke of how it was an eye-opener to her. It was an opportunity for Khadijara to relax within the hospital environment.

Khadijara said: “I’m so grateful to visit the cinema, after being in the hospital for 14 days. Staff were fantastic as a team, all so lovely, I couldn’t fault them at all.”

Her sister went with her as a guest, which Khadijara appreciated.

Elaine, who was also receiving care at the hospital, watched The Woman King, a historical film based on an all-women military division that was tasked with defending the West African Kingdom of Dahomey. 

She said the film was absolutely outstanding and described the almost all Black cast as appropriate for the timing of Black History Month. The visit gave her a couple of hours to switch off. She praised staff for being very accommodating to patients’ needs.

Elaine visits the cinema each week and has seen other recent releases such as Black Adam and Mrs Harris goes to Paris. She likes how the cinema can accommodate her hospital bed.

Yvonne Fuyane (left), one of the two CW+ MediCinema nurses who care for patients during screenings, says the cinema visits gives an escape from how they are feeling, and the the little bubble it creates away from reality brings about a positive mindset. She talked about how one patient waited for his visits to the cinema and how important they were to him.

The CW+ MediCinema at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has 40 seats, as well as spaces for four beds and four wheelchairs.

It is operated by MediCinema and our Trust’s charity CW+. MediCinema is a charity that builds and runs cinemas in hospitals and other care facilities. Visiting a MediCinema is proven to improve emotional, mental and physical health, reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stress, and increase patient resilience.  

MediCinema CEO Colin Lawrence said: “I am delighted that patients have enjoyed our marking of Black History Month.   It always gives us such great pleasure to hear what visiting a MediCinema means to patients, and the difference it can make to their stay in hospital.”