Music project brings live performances to patients at five Welsh hospitals

Nation.Cymru staff

Patients at five community hospitals have been treated to weekly live music performances as part of a four-month project.

Musicians performed on wards and in communal areas across Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, with patients singing along to familiar songs and taking part in workshops.

The Music and Frailty programme ran from February 3 until May 1 and included pop, rock, folk and Welsh-language music performed on instruments including harp, guitar and keyboard.

Organisers said the sessions prompted memories among some patients and provided opportunities for patients, relatives and hospital staff to take part together.

The programme was delivered at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda in Llwynypia, Ysbyty Cwm Cynon in Mountain Ash, Dewi Sant Health Park in Pontypridd, Keir Hardie University Health Park in Merthyr Tydfil and Glanrhyd Hospital in Bridgend.

Carlene Tucker, Directorate Support Manager for Community Services at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said: “The music brought a real sense of calm and comfort to what can often be an overwhelming environment for some patients, and it also helped to boost morale amongst staff.

“We saw moments of joy, connection and even memory recall, with music unlocking recognition in a way that clinical care alone sometimes cannot.”

The scheme was first piloted in 2025 before Rhondda Cynon Taf Council secured National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Wales to run an expanded programme this year.

A total of 33 musicians from the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Artists’ Network were paid to take part. The network, which is managed by the council’s arts service, includes more than 200 creative practitioners.

An evaluation of the project found that using local musicians appeared to have particular benefits, with familiar songs, accents and shared cultural and geographical references helping some patients reconnect with memories and their communities.

Staff also reported improvements in their mood and said they believed extending the programme to other parts of the health board could benefit colleagues.

‘Uplifting experiences’

Rosie Dow, the Arts Council of Wales’s Head of Arts, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Programmes such as Music and Frailty show the difference this work can make – creating uplifting experiences for patients, offering valuable opportunities for artists, and supporting the wellbeing of NHS staff.”

The project was run by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Arts Service in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Staylittle Music and Musaic Minds.

Cllr Scott Emanuel, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, said: “Music and Frailty is an incredible example of the impact the arts can have on the wellbeing of our residents.

“I thank each of the talented artists for the enthusiasm and compassion they brought. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in 2027.”

Plans are now being made to run the programme again next year.

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