Music, poetry and moments of connection: Three 15 at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
By Sandra Taylor, Senior Arts and Heritage Manager at Your City and Metropolitan Hospitals Charity, a Three 15 delivery partner.
“I was dancing to this when I first met my husband. Oh, it brings back lots of memories.” A familiar song can open up a conversation, bring back a treasured memory or offer a moment of comfort. At Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick, music, singing and poetry have been creating these opportunities for patients, visitors and staff through Three 15.
The hospital hosts the project’s Smethwick Hive, bringing artists into hospital spaces and encouraging creative connections with the people who use them. During its first year, the programme has developed through ongoing conversations with patients, staff and artists, with each visit helping us understand what works best in a busy healthcare setting.
Bringing live music to the wards
Cellist Jadie Carey and violinist Louise Carey delivered three live music sessions across different hospital departments, reaching 52 patients as well as visitors and staff. Their repertoire combined classical, folk and popular music, with space for requests and personal favourites.
On Ward A9, patients smiled, tapped their hands and feet and sang along. Familiar songs prompted conversations about loved ones and significant moments in their lives. “Two of my favourite songs, one was my husband's and the other my mum's. It is really uplifting, thank you,” said one patient.
Visitors stayed to listen, sometimes pausing in the corridor when they had been preparing to leave. Staff also stopped when their duties allowed, sharing in the atmosphere the musicians created.
In the Acute Medical Unit, where patients were awaiting assessments, transfers or discharge, the response was often quieter. People thanked the musicians and described the music as relaxing, beautiful and “just what we need”. Some became tearful, showing how differently people can respond to the same experience.
Elsewhere in the unit, patients and families responded warmly, with thumbs up, applause and conversations about their own connections with music. These visits reinforced the importance of working closely with ward teams and responding to patients’ needs on the day.
Listening, conversation and poetry
The poetry programme has offered a more personal approach through individual bedside visits. Across five visits, poet Hayley spent time with 13 patients, listening to their experiences before sharing a carefully chosen poem or writing something new using their own words.
These conversations have become central to the work. Patients valued having time with an independent listener and the opportunity to speak openly about how they were feeling.
Personalised poems offered something tangible to keep. Returning with a completed poem was particularly meaningful for people spending longer periods in hospital. It showed that their conversations had been remembered and that the artist had taken time to respond.
Sixteen poems were written through the programme, with permission sought for public sharing. Fourteen feature in an exhibition in the hospital’s People’s Gallery, running from mid-September to the end of October 2026.
Familiar songs and shared experiences
On 28 July, professional opera singer Samantha Oxborough delivered the first Singing on Wards session, visiting seven wards and several side rooms. She reached approximately 30 patients, alongside visitors and staff.
Her repertoire ranged from musical theatre favourites to songs by The Carpenters, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and Bob Marley, as well as hymns and reflective pieces. Patients joined in with familiar songs, with one spontaneously singing a harmony part. A hymn prompted a conversation about faith between a patient and her family, creating a shared moment at the bedside.
“I've had a lot of trauma this week and this has made all the difference,” said one patient. Staff sang along, smiled and gathered to listen when clinical duties allowed. Visitors shared the performances with their relatives, making music part of their time together.
What we are learning through creativity and health
Across the programme, the strongest learning has been about listening and responding to individuals. A shared performance may encourage singing and conversation, while another patient may prefer quiet listening or a one-to-one visit.
Working alongside clinical teams helps artists find the right time and approach. The poetry visits have also highlighted the value of building relationships gradually and returning to patients.
The feedback so far suggests that these creative experiences can offer comfort, enjoyment and connection during a hospital stay. They also create opportunities for patients to share something of themselves beyond their immediate care needs.
As the Smethwick Hive develops, we have begun programming drama, storytelling and puppetry activity with Black Country Touring, building on what patients, artists and staff have helped us learn.
