Tom Burton, a storyteller from Seven Stories, visits the Great North Children's Hospital and the Freeman Hospital each week to read to children and teenagers, as part of a joint project with the Newcastle Hospitals Charity. The initiative has so far benefited 430 young patients and their families.
Tailored storytelling for each patient
Tom, 36, who is employed by Seven Stories, the Ouseburn-based National Centre for Children's Books, told ChronicleLive that what he reads is chosen on a case-by-case basis. He said: "What we read - or even if we do - is really something chosen on a case-by-case basis for each patient. You could have a patient who is 12, someone who is six, or even a baby who is 1."
He emphasised the importance of being a distraction rather than adding pressure. "Often if someone isn't well, the last thing you want to do is to go in and for them to feel that they have to make an effort. What's much more important is to be there and able to be a distraction - nothing that makes them feel they have to do anything."
Tom recalled a moment from a recent visit: "For instance, last Friday I was doing this and a nurse went past and she remarked: 'That's the first time he's smiled since he's been in [hospital]'. It's about helping to support everyone, not just the kids and their parents, but staff too."
Creating spaces of escapism
Tom acknowledged that the job can be difficult given the nature of some illnesses, but he finds it "incredibly rewarding". He said: "I think it's about creating a space that allows someone to take their mind off what they're going through. If someone is a bit older I might not read, it might just be a chat. Or even recently, I ended up crafting with a couple of teenagers and their mums and that was genuinely one of my favourite experiences."
When asked for recommendations, Tom said he tends to read books he knows well. "I tend to choose things I know really well, so that I can read it without thinking - and I can give the person more of a performance. There are two authors I would say are standouts. Emily Gravett, who is a genius, and Chris Haughton. A good picture book, for me, has a game in it and a really clear voice."
Positive impact on patients and staff
Katie Newell, head of the arts programme at Newcastle Hospitals Charity, said: "Connecting babies, children and young people with Seven Stories' Storytellers during hospital stays creates opportunity for escapism into imaginary worlds, and moments of joy, when it is often needed most." She added that patients report feeling less stressed and worried, and families report reading together more.
Laura McShane, a health play specialist at the hospital trust, said: "Tom, our storyteller, has had a profoundly positive impact across our children's wards with both our patients and our staff team. He has created meaningful moments of imagination, comfort and connection for patients and their families during what is a challenging time."
Wendy Elliot, chief executive at Seven Stories, said the project's inspiration came from "the magic of stories to connect" and that reading continues at home. "They can take a favourite book home, and they can read it together as a family. That's a really fulfilling moment for us because that reading journey continues and children and families reading together is really special and infinitely impactful on a family units wellbeing."
