Young patients at Ipswich Hospital will be given the chance to use music to help them express themselves when a new music therapy service launches in January.
Little Isla Gordon singing Christmas carols along with staff from Ipswich Hospital, members of the Jess Grant Celebration – including Jess’ parents Anita and Kevin – as well as Ray Travasso and pianist Daisy Williamson from Suffolk Music Therapy Services.
The initiative will give children who are receiving care the chance to spend one day a week making music under the guidance of hospital staff and a therapist from Suffolk Music Therapy Services. The aim is to boost their confidence and self-esteem while providing an outlet to help them express their feelings during their treatment.
Ipswich Hospital, which is run by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), is just one of 12 hospitals in the UK providing music therapy. It has been made possible by local charity the Jess Grant Celebration, which was set up in memory of Jess, who used music to help her cope with more than three years of gruelling treatment for a rare bone cancer before she passed away last year aged just 15.
Anita Grant, Jess’s mum and co-founder of the charity, said: “Jess’ passion was music; both listening to and playing her beloved electric guitar, and more recently her drums. In Jess’ memory we are now raising money for other children suffering from medical conditions so that we can fund the provision of music therapy.”
Siobhan Castle, health play specialist lead at Ipswich Hospital, said:
“This is really exciting news and a service which will benefit many children who receive care at Ipswich Hospital.
“We have wanted music therapy on the ward for many years, so this is a lovely Christmas present. We would like to pass our sincere thanks to Jess’ family and everyone at the Jess Grant Celebration for supporting this valuable initiative.”
Ray Travasso, director of Suffolk Music Therapy Services, said:
“We are so pleased to be able to provide music therapy for children at Ipswich Hospital.
“We know that music therapy can be a brilliant intervention for children who are in hospital for many reasons. We have some exciting and innovative plans for developing the service and can’t wait to get started in January 2020.”
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