Young patients facing surgery at Morriston Hospital are benefiting from a colourful new interactive art trail designed to reduce anxiety and make their journey to theatre a more positive experience.

Created by children’s author and illustrator Jo Lindley, the trail transforms the route from the children’s ward to operating theatres with a series of engaging murals, games and visual challenges that encourage children to move, play and explore along the way.

Funded by Swansea Bay Health Charity and Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Estates team, the project was developed in partnership with the Arts in Health team, paediatric staff, play specialists and BAYouth, the Health Board’s youth advisory panel.

The trail spans around 20 locations throughout the hospital and includes funny poses, acrobatics, hidden discoveries and film-themed puzzles suitable for a range of ages. The experience culminates in large-scale feature murals at theatre destinations, helping to turn what can be a daunting journey into an imaginative adventure.

The project was inspired by evidence showing that reducing stress and anxiety before surgery can have a positive impact on patients’ overall experience and recovery.

Artist, Jo Lindley shares her enthusiasm for the project:
“To have been entrusted with this project was a huge honour, and a responsibility I took seriously even as I had a lot of fun in the process.”

The brief, built between Jo Lindley, Johan Skre and the BAYouth team, was created around 3 principles: momentum, distraction and versatility.

“The design took its cue from parkour: getting from one place to the next in the most creative way possible. Across twenty locations a cast of animal characters make funny poses, perform acrobatics and ride silly vehicles (from carrot rockets to tiny bicycles). There are things for younger children to find and film puzzles for older ones to solve, ending in a space scene and a conga line at the two theatre entrances.”

Lisa Morgan, Play Manager at Swansea Bay University Health Board, shares:

“The art trail has made a huge impact for patients and families. Not only is it visually aesthetic, but it tells a story and provides a look and find theme as a great distraction for the children. So many children have used it as a focus for their theatre journey, and have loved the bright, colourful and fun characters along the way. Its been able to take their mind off their forthcoming procedure whilst on the way to theatre, allowing them to refocus their attention and help lessen their anxiety.”

Johan Skre, Arts in Health Manager at Swansea Bay University Health Board, said:

“When a child needs surgery, they and their loved ones need all the support they can get. The Play Team and children’s ward staff do an incredible job, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to design a project that supports both them and the families they care for. It was a pleasure to work with Jo, and together we led a process with stakeholders to ensure the final outcome reflected their needs. Thanks to this collaborative approach, and to Jo’s talent and dedication, the results are brilliant and will make a tangible difference to the experience of hundreds of paediatric patients every month.

Jo is also finalising a bilingual activity book that will entertain and distract patients before surgery and through recovery, and introduce the young people to the characters so they can recognise familiar faces along the Art Trail”