George’s Rockstars can now be found weaving its magic at Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. Thanks to a wonderful legacy left to the charity, Music Therapist Natasha Larkin has taken up residency at this teaching hospital.
There had been Music Therapy at the Royal Alexandra previously, but with the help of this legacy, Natasha can now practice Music Therapy on a regular weekly basis, which of course means a lot more children are benefiting from all that it can offer them.
We managed to grab a few minutes with Natasha, who as well as delivering sessions is also working to build a sustainable service on the wards, to discuss how George’s Rockstars and the paediatric hospital Royal Alexandra are working together.
Is working in a paediatric setting new for you?
No, since qualifying almost 10 years ago I have worked in many settings with people of all ages, as well as various paediatric hospital settings which has become my area of clinical passion and expertise. This is an exciting opportunity to build on my experience and create a new service in a children’s hospital, which is quite rare across the country.
Why is this such a rare occurrence?
In my experience, a lot of hospitals see Music Therapy as a luxury, as they deem it as useful but useful entertainment rather than important therapy. We are so lucky that the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital understands how powerful and supportive it can be, and the fact that they are a teaching hospital enables the understanding to go further too.”
Why do some people view Music Therapy as entertainment?
I always say that you can hear before you see it. Pass by a room where I am practising and you could be forgiven for thinking that my patient is just having a good sing song or having a go at playing an instrument. However, you’d be underestimating what is actually going on and what my thinking and goals are within the sessions.
Thanks to the magic of music a child is learning coping mechanisms that will help them deal with anxieties that come with being in hospital. It also helps alleviate pain as well as enhance communication skills, so as you can see whilst it might sound like a bit of fun, Music Therapy is a serious and important tool that benefits a wide range of people, not least children going through a difficult time in hospital.
You mention that it’s brilliant that the Royal Alexandra is a teaching hospital – why is that?
I get to spend a lot of time educating the nurses and doctors about why Music Therapy is an effective form of therapy. It is such a privilege to work with a group of medical professionals who take an active interest in what I do and see it as so much more than a ‘bit of fun’. They appreciate the medical attributes that it can offer, such as the fact it has been proven that active involvement in Music Therapy improves oxygen saturation rates, which in turn brings about numerous benefits.
Looking to the future, I am confident that the ripple effect of our presence at the Royal Alexandra will mean that more and more medical practitioners will get to understand the power of Music Therapy. So not only is George’s Rockstars helping children in hospital today, but I am confident that it will help hospitalised children for many years to come.
I am so proud of what we are achieving and will continue to achieve at the Royal Alexandra, but it does of course come at a price, which is why the charity is so grateful for the amazing legacy that has allowed George’s Rockstars to create a permanent offering in a paediatric hospital.