A choir made up of members of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team at Southmead Hospital sang at a special memorial service.
The ICU team hold a memorial service every year for relatives of people who have passed away in the unit, giving both staff and families the chance to take time to reflect.
Since 2021 the team has worked with North Bristol NHS Trust’s (NBT) Music Manager, Laura Tanner, to create a pop-up choir made up of nursing and medical staff, that rehearses for 10 weeks in the run-up to the service. In the final weeks of this year’s rehearsals, the choir performed in the atrium to prepare for the service, giving other colleagues, patients and visitors the opportunity to see them sing.
This year’s service was held at Kings Weston House for the first time
ICU nurse Helen Tucker was involved in organising the memorial service, which was attended by almost 120 people.
“It’s really important for us to have time to reflect and look back on the year,” she said.
“We get feedback that people appreciate the time to speak to the team and find it helpful.
“It was lovely to listen to our colleagues sing and we were grateful to the chaplaincy and Laura for their support.”
Colleagues came back from maternity leave or returned from roles elsewhere to be part of the choir.
Laura Tanner said: “It is really wonderful for ICU colleagues to share the joy of making music together, with many going on to join local choirs following their experience of singing together as they recognise it is hugely positive for their wellbeing.
“This year we have spent the last few weeks rehearsing in the atrium to get used to performing in public, with lots of lovely comments from members of the hospital community.
"I know how much the memorial service means to colleagues in the ICU and it meant a lot to be able to work with the members of the choir on this special moment in the day.”
Photography credit: Tey Foronda.
