This week, efforts to deliver a special cinema experience for children and families in Manchester hospitals advanced significantly. The MediCinema Appeal has secured half of its target, collecting £579,000 so far. Supported by former cricketer Freddie Flintoff and organized by the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, the initiative seeks to construct a fully accessible 50-seat cinema serving patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, and additional facilities across the region.
On December 1, Flintoff initiated the £1.1 million drive, urging regional residents to contribute. Once built, the cinema will host up to 260 screenings annually. With assistance from nurses and trained volunteers, these sessions will provide patients and their loved ones with opportunities for relaxation, connection, and relief amid challenging circumstances.
A Visit to Liverpool’s Inspirational Model
To showcase the potential impact, a tour of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool revealed its MediCinema, operational since November 2024. The facility occupies a transformed upper-floor space, turning a plain corridor into an inviting area with neon accents and dynamic film posters reminiscent of commercial theaters.
The cinema itself reimagines a dated 1970s lecture hall into a lively venue featuring plush, multicolored seats and dedicated areas for hospital beds and wheelchairs. Its debut screening featured 11-year-old patient Nancy Groome, who has returned as an inpatient recently alongside her mother, Sian, an ICU nurse at the hospital.
Patient and Family Experiences
Nancy shared her enthusiasm: “I think it’s really good. It’s great that I’m in the hospital and I can just come up to watch a film. It’s a great distraction.” After two weeks in the hospital, she and her mother have visited twice. “It’s really nice to relax and watch a film and get out the room,” Nancy added.
Sian noted that Nancy has been a frequent patient over the years, and they prioritize cinema visits during stays. “I was the first kid in a hospital bed [at the cinema] and watched Moana Two,” Nancy recalled. She has also enjoyed The Fantastic Four, a film about monkeys, Avatar, and Zootropolis.
“There are other kids in their pyjamas and with medical equipment,” Sian explained. “So everyone is in the same boat and everyone else looks like this as well.” She emphasized feeling fortunate for the cinema, which encourages socialization beyond isolation. “It’s nice just to get out of those four walls,” Sian said.
Accommodations extend to varying needs: Nancy has attended via hospital bed, wheelchair, or recliner. “No matter how poorly you are, they cater for all your medical equipment. You’re not left out,” Sian stated. “And there’s always the two nurses there so you feel safe as well.” Importantly, entry remains free, easing financial burdens for families during treatment.
Insights from Hospital Leadership
Chief Nurse Nathan Askew spearheaded the introduction of MediCinema at Alder Hey. Drawing from his early career at Guy’s and St Thomas’s in London, where he first encountered a similar setup, Askew highlighted its value. “We used to take the kids over on a Saturday and it just got them off the ward and it was such a great idea,” he said.
Askew described the profound effects: “Just seeing the difference it makes to children, young people and their families to be able to get out of their care environment, have a break from sort of the monotony of being in hospital and have some normality.” The cinema delivers high-quality entertainment with a 4K screen and surround sound, creating an immersive escape. “When that door closes it is like a full cinema experience. It’s phenomenal,” he affirmed.
Funded without NHS costs, the cinema fosters family bonding and accommodates private viewings for those unable to join groups. It also supports research into using films to alleviate pre-surgery anxiety. “To be able to escape that room, the knowledge of your condition, the treatments that you’re going through and to be able to just have a couple of hours of normality with your friends, your family, your loved ones. I don’t think there’s a price you can put on that,” Askew concluded.
The design prioritizes comfort and safety, with standard seating, open floor space for mobility aids, and on-site medical equipment. Two dedicated Alder Hey nurses oversee every screening to ensure seamless care.
For details or to contribute toward bringing this cinema to Manchester hospitals, visit mftcharity.org.uk.
