This week, efforts to deliver a special cinema experience for children and families in Manchester hospitals advanced significantly. The MediCinema Appeal has secured £579,000 toward its £1.1 million target, marking the halfway point in the campaign. Supported by former cricketer Freddie Flintoff and organized by the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, the initiative focuses on constructing a fully accessible 50-seat cinema serving patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, and additional facilities.
Campaign Launch and Expected Impact
On December 1, Flintoff initiated the fundraising drive, urging regional residents to contribute. Once operational, the cinema will host up to 260 screenings annually. Nurses and trained volunteers will facilitate these sessions, providing patients and their loved ones with opportunities for relaxation, connection, and relief amid challenging medical journeys.
To showcase the potential benefits, a visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool revealed the success of a similar setup, operational since November 2024. The facility offers a glimpse into how such a space can enhance hospital life.
Patient Experiences at Alder Hey
Eleven-year-old Nancy Groome became the first patient to enjoy the cinema upon its opening. Recently readmitted for two weeks with her mother, Sian—an ICU nurse at the hospital—Nancy shared her thoughts: “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.”
She continued, “We’ve been in for two weeks now and we’ve come here twice. It’s really nice to relax and watch a film and get out the room.” Nancy, a frequent patient over recent years, highlighted films she has viewed, including Moana Two, The Fantastic Four, a movie about monkeys, Avatar, and Zootropolis. Her mother noted, “There are other kids in their pyjamas and with medical equipment. So everyone is in the same boat and everyone else looks like this as well because they’ve been here as well.”
Sian emphasized the value of escaping isolation: “It’s nice just to get out of those four walls.” She added that accommodations suit varying needs, from hospital beds to wheelchairs and recliners, ensuring inclusivity. Two nurses are always present for safety, and the free access proves invaluable for families facing financial strains from treatment proximity.
Design and Operational Features
Situated on an upper floor, the cinema converts a plain corridor into an engaging space with neon accents and vibrant film posters reminiscent of commercial theaters. The viewing area, revamped from a 1970s lecture hall, features colorful, comfortable seating and dedicated zones for medical equipment.
Chief Nurse Nathan Askew championed the project at Alder Hey, drawing from his early career experience at Guy’s and St Thomas’s in London. The 44-year-old explained, “When I was a newly qualified nurse, I worked at Guy’s and St Thomas’s in London who had one of the first MediCinemas in their old medical school. 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.”
Askew described the transformative 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.” He praised the high-quality setup—a 4K screen with surround sound—stressing, “When that door closes it is like a full cinema experience. It’s phenomenal.”
Funded without NHS costs, the cinema promotes family bonding and private viewings for isolated patients. It also supports research into film as a tool for reducing pre-operation anxiety. Askew underscored its versatility: “We have our standard seating, which is amazing. We’ve also got a big open floor space. That’s really versatile; it allows children and young people in wheelchairs or on their beds to come in. So, actually, you don’t even need to leave your bed to come to the cinema.”
Staffed by two hospital nurses per screening, the space prioritizes medical readiness. Askew concluded, “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.”
To support the project and accelerate movie magic for Manchester patients, visit mftcharity.org.uk for donation details.
