OU research into creative writing leads to hospital Writer’s Nook

Open University (OU) research into the benefits of creative writing to support the wellbeing of staff working in busy hospital wards has led to the creation of a hospital Writer’s Nook.

The new nook, which is based in the café area within the Tees Restaurant, at the University Hospital of North Tees, is a space for staff to come together to write and host book groups.

Based on the Creative Writing Interventions project, led by Dr Siobhan Campbell, OU Senior Lecturer of Creative Writing and colleague Dr Sally Blackburn-Daniels supported by retired palliative nurse consultant and poet, Mel McEvoy, the area showcases stories, prose and poems written by members of staff.

It also features a new bookcase and literacy area to support staff health and wellbeing, where staff can read, swap and share books, and take a moment to recharge during a hectic workday.

Dr Siobhan Campbell said:

“We’re thrilled to have been able to work with NHS staff on our creative writing interventions project which involves important research into understanding how the impact of writing supports the wellbeing of staff working in highly pressurised situations.

“Writing is its own medicine and we’re delighted to celebrate the work of NHS staff involved in the project and to also support the launch of the Writers’ Nook within the hospital.”

Mel McEvoy said:

“Our new nook is a place to shine a light on the creativity, experiences, and voices of colleagues from across our hospitals.

“Working in a busy hospital can be stressful and can take an emotional toll on staff. Our research project is about exploring this emotional impact and to promote wellbeing.”

The Nook was made possible thanks to support from The Open University, Northern Cancer Care Alliance and University Hospitals Tees.

Dr Jean MacLeod, medical examiner and chair of the arts council at University Hospitals Tees said:

“The arts council want the nook to be a place that encourages reflection and reading or to help encourage others to pick up a pen or pencil and put their own thoughts to paper.

“It is hoped in the future we may be able to carve out other little nooks in our other hospitals to have this wellbeing space and to celebrate creativity in its written form.”

This work is part of Dr Campbell’s wider Creative Writing Interventions research project (Creative Writing Interventions in Post-Conflict and Cultural Recovery) which has had iterations with social workers abroad as well as veterans' charities in the UK, the hospice system, and more recently with NHS Trusts and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

It is also an OU Knowledge Transfer Voucher project, part of an annual scheme which aims to kick-start new partnerships and collaborative projects between OU academics and SMEs, public and third sector organisations across all nations in the UK and overseas. Dr Campbell is continuing this knowledge exchange approach with work on a possible in-service course for NHS workers using creative writing to support compassionate critical thinking which their participants have noted will feed into patient relationships.

This project is part of the OU’s Open Societal Challenges, which enables those outside the OU to work with our researchers to address society’s most pressing issues.