In response to the National Arts and Health Framework endorsed by the Ministers of Health across Australia in 2014, a Western Australian (WA) Arts and Health Consortium was established with leadership from St John of God Health Care and the WA Chamber of Arts and Culture. The Consortium consists of representatives from the public and private hospital systems, health consumers, arts advocates and the government departments of Health, and Culture and the Arts. A ground-breaking report1 was commissioned to “map and measure the current level of engagement, support and investment in Arts and Health activities in order to better understand the extent to which the arts are contributing to the delivery of health services in WA hospitals and to the health and well-being of patients, their families, visitors and staff” (ibid, p6).
Key Findings. Whilst 75% of hospitals surveyed and interviewed indicated that they deliver Arts and Health activity, there was little evidence of overall co-ordination, strategy and planning. The top five barriers perceived by hospital staff were staff capacity, funding, space/time, co-ordination and patient safety; the top five issues identified by artists and arts organisations were staff capacity, time, hospital willingness, space and prioritisation of the arts organisation. There was little evidence of evaluation of arts in health projects, of induction training, and a focus on built environment and visual arts, rather than other media (performing arts, literary arts, participatory projects, and research).
Examples. There is growing awareness of the health benefits for patients, visitors and staff using these approaches. Examples include the UK “Breathe Magic” program2,3,4 a program of teaching magic tricks to disabled and hemiplegic children that fosters bilateral muscle use. The Starlight X-ray Project at Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth, x-rayed children’s favourite toys, giving children a greater sense of control of the hospital environment, and a channel for self-expression through story-telling with their images (ref 1, p55). Flinders Medical Centre provides an outstanding Model of care in Australia (ref 1, p68, refs 5, 6).
A Framework for Progress and Strategy Development. The report authors developed an Arts in Health Continuum based upon work by Putland5,6. The parameters for the Continuum include increasing levels of Activity (from art only used in hospital design and décor, through to art-making being part of hospital life), degrees of Readiness (escalating from minimal activity, to projects, to strategy, to a community of practice), degree of participant engagement, and artistic approach. The Continuum therefore identifies a process by which institutions and planners can seek to improve the use of Arts in Health, towards a mature strategically-planned practice widely involving the hospital community.