Comments from doctors and healthcare professionals
Thank you for your organisation. Such a lovely example of how small ideas cherished by committed people add so much to the world. Knowing your leaflets are available also makes me feel (slightly) less guilty about running late everyday! Doctor - North London
Excellent project. Please keep sending them. Your poems are the one thing in the NHS no one complains about.... Doctor - Bristol
Thank you and your colleagues for the encouragement that Poems in the Waiting Room brings to our practice. Not only do the poems entertain our patients whilst they wait, but it is difficult to put into words how encouraging the gift of them is to the Practice .... Doctor - Belper
Many thanks for sending the new issue of Poems In the Waiting Room - a blue one. A lovely selection. Incidentally, the poetry cards disappear fairly quickly, people obviously appreciate having them! Practice Manager - Brighton
I have read the poem leaflet for waiting rooms and would be grateful if you could arrange for some leaflets to be sent for display in the Surgery Waiting Room... Doctor - Hampshire
We have all greatly enjoyed receiving and reading the selection of verses and a number of patients have remarked how refreshing it has been to have a change from the usual tattered waiting room publications! .... I feel that you have made an excellent choice of presentation.... Practice Manager - East Sheen
We have really enjoyed receiving Poems in the Waiting Room over the last couple of years.... We are a small practice but the pamphlets have been appreciated , and those that don't get used are taken to our cottage hospital, which is G.P. run, and disappear from there .. Doctor - Keswick
Thank you for the recent leaflets of poems in the waiting room, could you possibly send us some more as we seem to have a good interest from our patients and their families. We have two day services as well as an inpatient unit and the leaflets have seemed to disappear quickly. Hospice Nurse - Colchester
A friend recently showed me one of your Poems in the Waiting Room leaflets. I was very impressed with this and as a Practice Manager of a large practice (10,000 patients), I would be grateful if you will advise me where I can obtain a supply for our waiting rooms. Practice Manager - Redditch
Thank you for the recent leaflets of poems in the waiting room, could you possibly send us some more as we seem to have a good interest from our patients and their families. We have two day services as well as an inpatient unit and the leaflets have seemed to disappear quickly. Hospice Nurse - Colchester
As the co-ordinator for a new arts + healthcare program in a hospital, I was absolutely smitten by the Poems in the Waiting Room project! Would it be possible to get sample cards/poster? I'm happy to pay for them! Hospital Arts Co-ordinator St Louis USA
I recently saw examples of your sponsored Poems in the Waiting Room leaflets. What a good idea! I'd be grateful if you could let me know how I can obtain these for my surgery. Practice Manager - West Kensington
I came across one of your excellent Poems in the Waiting Room leaflets last week and I wondered if you might be able to provide some of them for us here. I work as a Hospice Chaplain.., and the leaflets which you produce are ideally suited for relatives to read when they are here or to take with them when they leave, in both ways gaining additional insight and support ... Thank you for preparing such a useful leaflet... Hospice Chaplain - Edinburgh
A patient brought me a sample of one of your leaflets. I thought it was great and wondered if we could be added to your circulation list. Hospital Sister London
Thank you very much for the new collection of poems. They are very much appreciated here, so much so that they go immediately! - within a week or so... It would be nice if you could send us more. Practice Friend London
I have found using these poems so useful in my work as an art therapist. I am now in a new post in mental health services in Carlisle and wonder if it is possible to subscribe to your service for regular leaflets to use in our waiting room area. Art Therapist Cumbria
First of all I wanted to thank you for providing poetry cards for our waiting room. It has been welcomed by our patients with much positive feedback. It really is a brilliant idea. Secondly, I wonder how you are doing in securing funding for the initiative, as we notice that we have not received poetry cards for some time now. We have kept 'master cards' and are photocopying the poems but obviously it would be lovely to receive new ones if they are available. Sorry, this sounds very selfish, as you must have been battling away to secure funding but I guess I only want to reflect our surgery's enthusiasm for the project! Doctor Putney
I wanted to add to your store of anecdotes about the way PITWR is used by patients. One of mine is a sterling elderly woman , with many medical problems, who is dying. She is pretty much blind, but uses a magnifier, and her husband reads poetry to her. When a new PITWR leaflet arrives, they have been in the habit of taking one and photocopying it for distribution to family and friends. I gave her an anthology, and she wrote me a letter (nearly illegible, but she did want to write it herself) saying she had only prevented her son from making off with it by bequeathing it to him in her will. Doctor Bristol
I have only just recently picked up a copy of Poems in the Waiting Room, of which I had been totally unaware. What a noble project! Shame on the Arts Council. Doctor London.
I am writing with regard to your innovative project Poems in the Waiting Room. Your endeavour is further proof that the UK Health System is far superior to anything we have in the States! Clinical Psychologist - Pittsburgh USA
I was in the waiting room at Great Western Hospital, Swindon, today and I picked up a blue and a green copy of 'Poems in the Waiting Room'. My heart leapt when I read 'The Beanfield's Scent' by Alison Brackenbury because it's a scent I adore and have always wished I could wear it as perfume! I can't understand why so many people seem oblivious to it's delights! Friends and family have thought me quite odd when I have enthused about the scent as we have driven past a field of beans in flower. It was wonderful to know that someone else has the same feelings about it as me - is there any way you can pass on my pleasure to the author of the poem? Link Volunteer Wiltshire
Just to let you know, your poems have been very popular. all the copies you sent have gone! our consultant was also very taken with them and has ordered your book. Nurse Wellingborough
I am writing to thank you for the issues of poems for our waiting areas. These have proved very popular, with patients photocopying specific poems or asking to take the leaflet away with them. The doctor is a strong believer in creating a healing environment for patients and the introduction of the poems is a lovely way of softening what can be a somewhat clinical environment. Practice Manager Lewes East Sussex
Having just received the latest batch of poems I just wanted to say a grateful thank you for this wonderful, imaginative and nourishing service. All of the clients who visit us here in our 2 centres are affected by cancer in some way and your poetry cards make a difference to those who read them. I love it that we can offer something enlivening during dark times. I was glad to read that your donations have again increased so that you can continue this meaningful venture. Cancer Care Centre Manager Lancashire
What a delight to open an envelope not containing drug company promotional materials. I'm pleased to be able to pass these on again to the patients at Birley Health Centre, particularly given the time they have to wait to see all of the late running doctors here. Hopefully a donation to follow. Doctor Sheffield
I and my patients are very grateful for the work of the charity and the poetry leaflets that are avidly read in the waiting room, thereby interesting and amusing patients while, almost inevitably, they wait ages to see me! Consultant Neuropsychiatrist Bristol
I am a GP in Edinburgh and had to attend the local hospital as a patient and came across Poems in the Waiting Room. It was very nice to have something stimulating to read whilst waiting and I thought it would be appreciated by our patients. How would we go about receiving your collections? Doctor Edinburgh
I wonder if we could join your distribution list? I worked some years ago in Portchester, Hampshire, and organised your leaflets there, and they proved to be very popular then. I had completely forgotten about the scheme until I recently visited the vet with our dog and saw them displayed there. I'm sure our patients will appreciate having poems to read while they wait and to be able to take them away too. Practice Manager Southampton
What a fantastic idea, I am a Ward Sister on a Day Surgery Unit that has a waiting room for patients and their relatives. I would love some pamphlets, as it would make such a lovely change for the patients to read something other than magazines... I can't wait for them to arrive! Thank you Sister Andover
I am a senior care worker at a daycentre for older people in Chiswick. One of our clients brought in a leaflet of poems which he got from a hospital while waiting for an appt. He showed it to other clients and it raised great interest. Would it be possible to obtain some more leaflets from you, so I may hand out to the many clients that are asking for a copy. Care Worker Chiswick London
I am writing to thank you for sending the Practice a supply of poetry cards produced by Poems in the Waiting Room. Feedback from patients has been extremely positive and they thoroughly enjoyed the material provided... I think the provision of these sheets in the waiting room has been a great success. General Practitioner Alcester
Excellent project. Please keep sending them. Your poems are the one thing in the NHS no one complains about.... Doctor - Bristol
Thank you and your colleagues for the encouragement that Poems in the Waiting Room brings to our practice. Not only do the poems entertain our patients whilst they wait, but it is difficult to put into words how encouraging the gift of them is to the Practice .... Doctor - Belper
Many thanks for sending the new issue of Poems In the Waiting Room - a blue one. A lovely selection. Incidentally, the poetry cards disappear fairly quickly, people obviously appreciate having them! Practice Manager - Brighton
I have read the poem leaflet for waiting rooms and would be grateful if you could arrange for some leaflets to be sent for display in the Surgery Waiting Room... Doctor - Hampshire
We have all greatly enjoyed receiving and reading the selection of verses and a number of patients have remarked how refreshing it has been to have a change from the usual tattered waiting room publications! .... I feel that you have made an excellent choice of presentation.... Practice Manager - East Sheen
We have really enjoyed receiving Poems in the Waiting Room over the last couple of years.... We are a small practice but the pamphlets have been appreciated , and those that don't get used are taken to our cottage hospital, which is G.P. run, and disappear from there .. Doctor - Keswick
Thank you for the recent leaflets of poems in the waiting room, could you possibly send us some more as we seem to have a good interest from our patients and their families. We have two day services as well as an inpatient unit and the leaflets have seemed to disappear quickly. Hospice Nurse - Colchester
A friend recently showed me one of your Poems in the Waiting Room leaflets. I was very impressed with this and as a Practice Manager of a large practice (10,000 patients), I would be grateful if you will advise me where I can obtain a supply for our waiting rooms. Practice Manager - Redditch
Thank you for the recent leaflets of poems in the waiting room, could you possibly send us some more as we seem to have a good interest from our patients and their families. We have two day services as well as an inpatient unit and the leaflets have seemed to disappear quickly. Hospice Nurse - Colchester
As the co-ordinator for a new arts + healthcare program in a hospital, I was absolutely smitten by the Poems in the Waiting Room project! Would it be possible to get sample cards/poster? I'm happy to pay for them! Hospital Arts Co-ordinator St Louis USA
I recently saw examples of your sponsored Poems in the Waiting Room leaflets. What a good idea! I'd be grateful if you could let me know how I can obtain these for my surgery. Practice Manager - West Kensington
I came across one of your excellent Poems in the Waiting Room leaflets last week and I wondered if you might be able to provide some of them for us here. I work as a Hospice Chaplain.., and the leaflets which you produce are ideally suited for relatives to read when they are here or to take with them when they leave, in both ways gaining additional insight and support ... Thank you for preparing such a useful leaflet... Hospice Chaplain - Edinburgh
A patient brought me a sample of one of your leaflets. I thought it was great and wondered if we could be added to your circulation list. Hospital Sister London
Thank you very much for the new collection of poems. They are very much appreciated here, so much so that they go immediately! - within a week or so... It would be nice if you could send us more. Practice Friend London
I have found using these poems so useful in my work as an art therapist. I am now in a new post in mental health services in Carlisle and wonder if it is possible to subscribe to your service for regular leaflets to use in our waiting room area. Art Therapist Cumbria
First of all I wanted to thank you for providing poetry cards for our waiting room. It has been welcomed by our patients with much positive feedback. It really is a brilliant idea. Secondly, I wonder how you are doing in securing funding for the initiative, as we notice that we have not received poetry cards for some time now. We have kept 'master cards' and are photocopying the poems but obviously it would be lovely to receive new ones if they are available. Sorry, this sounds very selfish, as you must have been battling away to secure funding but I guess I only want to reflect our surgery's enthusiasm for the project! Doctor Putney
I wanted to add to your store of anecdotes about the way PITWR is used by patients. One of mine is a sterling elderly woman , with many medical problems, who is dying. She is pretty much blind, but uses a magnifier, and her husband reads poetry to her. When a new PITWR leaflet arrives, they have been in the habit of taking one and photocopying it for distribution to family and friends. I gave her an anthology, and she wrote me a letter (nearly illegible, but she did want to write it herself) saying she had only prevented her son from making off with it by bequeathing it to him in her will. Doctor Bristol
I have only just recently picked up a copy of Poems in the Waiting Room, of which I had been totally unaware. What a noble project! Shame on the Arts Council. Doctor London.
I am writing with regard to your innovative project Poems in the Waiting Room. Your endeavour is further proof that the UK Health System is far superior to anything we have in the States! Clinical Psychologist - Pittsburgh USA
I was in the waiting room at Great Western Hospital, Swindon, today and I picked up a blue and a green copy of 'Poems in the Waiting Room'. My heart leapt when I read 'The Beanfield's Scent' by Alison Brackenbury because it's a scent I adore and have always wished I could wear it as perfume! I can't understand why so many people seem oblivious to it's delights! Friends and family have thought me quite odd when I have enthused about the scent as we have driven past a field of beans in flower. It was wonderful to know that someone else has the same feelings about it as me - is there any way you can pass on my pleasure to the author of the poem? Link Volunteer Wiltshire
Just to let you know, your poems have been very popular. all the copies you sent have gone! our consultant was also very taken with them and has ordered your book. Nurse Wellingborough
I am writing to thank you for the issues of poems for our waiting areas. These have proved very popular, with patients photocopying specific poems or asking to take the leaflet away with them. The doctor is a strong believer in creating a healing environment for patients and the introduction of the poems is a lovely way of softening what can be a somewhat clinical environment. Practice Manager Lewes East Sussex
Having just received the latest batch of poems I just wanted to say a grateful thank you for this wonderful, imaginative and nourishing service. All of the clients who visit us here in our 2 centres are affected by cancer in some way and your poetry cards make a difference to those who read them. I love it that we can offer something enlivening during dark times. I was glad to read that your donations have again increased so that you can continue this meaningful venture. Cancer Care Centre Manager Lancashire
What a delight to open an envelope not containing drug company promotional materials. I'm pleased to be able to pass these on again to the patients at Birley Health Centre, particularly given the time they have to wait to see all of the late running doctors here. Hopefully a donation to follow. Doctor Sheffield
I and my patients are very grateful for the work of the charity and the poetry leaflets that are avidly read in the waiting room, thereby interesting and amusing patients while, almost inevitably, they wait ages to see me! Consultant Neuropsychiatrist Bristol
I am a GP in Edinburgh and had to attend the local hospital as a patient and came across Poems in the Waiting Room. It was very nice to have something stimulating to read whilst waiting and I thought it would be appreciated by our patients. How would we go about receiving your collections? Doctor Edinburgh
I wonder if we could join your distribution list? I worked some years ago in Portchester, Hampshire, and organised your leaflets there, and they proved to be very popular then. I had completely forgotten about the scheme until I recently visited the vet with our dog and saw them displayed there. I'm sure our patients will appreciate having poems to read while they wait and to be able to take them away too. Practice Manager Southampton
What a fantastic idea, I am a Ward Sister on a Day Surgery Unit that has a waiting room for patients and their relatives. I would love some pamphlets, as it would make such a lovely change for the patients to read something other than magazines... I can't wait for them to arrive! Thank you Sister Andover
I am a senior care worker at a daycentre for older people in Chiswick. One of our clients brought in a leaflet of poems which he got from a hospital while waiting for an appt. He showed it to other clients and it raised great interest. Would it be possible to obtain some more leaflets from you, so I may hand out to the many clients that are asking for a copy. Care Worker Chiswick London
I am writing to thank you for sending the Practice a supply of poetry cards produced by Poems in the Waiting Room. Feedback from patients has been extremely positive and they thoroughly enjoyed the material provided... I think the provision of these sheets in the waiting room has been a great success. General Practitioner Alcester
