St Thomas' boasts the distinction of having the first MediCinema in the country.
MediCinema is a registered charity that has formed a unique partnership with the health sector and the film industry, installing on-site cinemas in hospitals.
With nurses instead of usherettes, MediCinema helps to enrich the quality of life for patients by bringing the magic of the silver screen to patients young and old, including those in beds and wheelchairs.
By screening the latest releases, they and their families are able to escape the reality of hospital life and, just for a few hours, be transported somewhere else.
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What is it?
A big screen cinema with Dolby Surround Sound, retractable tiered seating and a 35mm projector operated by a professional cinema projectionist.
This on-site cinema allows easy access for patients, including those in beds and wheelchairs, their carers and families, making it a truly social occasion.
Medical supervision is provided by MediCinema nurses throughout each screening.
Admission is free of charge for all inpatients, their families and carers.
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How do I get tickets?
The cinema manager visits the wards on the day of the screening to distribute the free cinema tickets for the patients and their families. Tickets need to be signed off by the ward nursing staff and the on-duty MediCinema nurses.
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What's on and when
Screenings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7.30pm, with fortnightly Saturday matinees at 1.30pm for the children of the Evelina. A new current release is screened twice a week.
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Funding
MediCinema is a registered charity that has formed a unique partnership with the health sector and film industry. Funds are raised through sponsorship, grants from foundations, events and corporate supporters – no NHS funding is sought.
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Special previews
MediCinema aims to enrich the quality of life for those in hospital. Their corporate supporters include Vue Entertainment and the Walt Disney Company. The charity also has the support of the leading film distributors, who not only donate the prints, but sometimes give MediCinema the opportunity to preview them before they go out on general release – making the patients feel really special.
The audience has included children with heart transplants and those waiting for kidney transplants, those undergoing chemotherapy and those recovering from serious operations who could not have seen the film in any cinema other than the MediCinema. MediCinema aims to cheer the patients up, by regularly screening films so they can escape into the magic that is cinema.
For more information visit the MediCinema website.