Improving staff wellbeing through creative exploration

Edinburgh Printmakers

During the year, we offer a programme of events focused on improving health and wellbeing through different forms of art and creative exploration.

In collaboration with Edinburgh Printmakers, we recently displayed their Editions exhibition at our Tonic Gallery in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Working together, we looked at how we could expand the wellbeing benefits of the exhibition itself and link it to other wellbeing activities. Edinburgh Printmakers then offered a free four hour printmaking workshop for NHS Lothian staff which took place on Saturday, 30 September 2023.

Staff who attended had the opportunity to learn about and try two different printmaking techniques, providing a creative focus and distraction as a way to relax and recharge. Edinburgh Printmakers guided the staff members through each process , beginning with a demonstration, then time to create their own print and experiment with the technique.

I had a difficult shift in the Emergency Department the night before and attending the workshop definitely helped me feel more positive going into my shift that night after the workshop.”

NHS Lothian Staff Workshop with Edinburgh Printmakers

The participants

As the exhibition was displayed at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, staff based there were invited to attend the workshop. Ten places were available and these were allocated on a first come first served basis. For anyone who was unable to attend, a 15% discount has been offered by Edinburgh Printmakers to NHS Lothian staff for future workshops.

Participants came from a variety of different areas within the hospital, including clinical staff such as clinical fellows, nurses and a pharmacist, and non clinical staff such as a healthcare chaplain, project assistant and purchasing officer, and all from a variety of settings in the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, including Medical Photography, Emergency Department, Endoscopy and the Liver Unit.

Many of the staff who attended explained it was the opportunity to do something creative that attracted them to the workshop. The majority of the attendees had no experience in print making so the learning of a new art type was an enticing factor.

How the workshop made a difference to staff

Participants were asked to complete an online survey after attending the event. The results illustrate how the workshop supported us to meet a number of our strategic outcomes for the programme:

86%

of staff agreed the workshop made an improvement in their emotional wellbeing, reporting to feel more relaxed/less stressed

“I really enjoyed the experience, learning new skills, meeting new people. Very relaxed workshop and felt a sense of achievement at the end of it.”

100%

of staff agreed that the workshop made an improvement in feeling connected with others

“I enjoyed meeting new people on the day who worked in all different areas of the hospital. It was enjoyable to be doing something creative, the vibe of the workshop was so relaxing and fun.”

86%

of staff agreed that the workshop helped them feel valued as a member of staff at NHS Lothian

“It was a nice (and rare) opportunity to do something different specially targeted at NHS staff. It was nice to feel included and the session was inclusive of those without any prior experience.“

Legacy

Since the workshop, two Emergency Department doctors who had heard about Edinburgh Printmakers from a colleague then attended a ‘Pick’n’Mix’ workshop. Another staff member who attended the original workshop went along to a ‘Drink and Print’ workshop and brought two colleagues with them. One of our main aims when providing this initial workshop was to highlight to staff the different ways they can engage in art and creativity to improve wellbeing, and open up opportunities that they perhaps didn’t know existed before. It is therefore hoped that as a result of the workshop, many more staff members will look at ways they can improve their wellbeing at home and in work by taking part in creative activities like this.

As well as benefitting the individual participant’s wellbeing, 86% of participants agreed that the workshop had increased their awareness of art based support and activities.

It was a real ‘ time out’ for 4 hours. I have signed up for another event at Edinburgh Printmakers (encouraged by the NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts discount).”