Patients feel better as 3D cinema premieres

They say laughter is the best medicine – and now patients at Guy’s Hospital can recover while they enjoy the latest comedy blockbusters in a state-of-the-art 3D cinema.

The brand-new MediCinema at Guy’s has 37 seats and holds five hospital beds and seven wheelchairs so patients undergoing different types of treatment can feel better with film.

Stormtroopers and Darth Vader welcomed staff, patients and supporters to the official opening on Tuesday 26 November.

Speaking at the launch, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Chairman Sir Hugh Taylor, said: “I want to thank the MediCinema team on behalf of patients and their families. What they do really matters and forms a wonderful part of the patient experience that we provide at Guy's and St Thomas'.

“They bring the outside world into the hospital, allowing patients and their relatives to enjoy the wonderful and emotional experience of watching a film with others.”

Guests were shown a short film of the cinema being built and a showreel of trailers in 3D, allowing them to sample the experience that patients will be enjoying.

The MediCinema was funded by ICAP, the leading markets operator and provider of post-trade risk mitigation, and Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity. It is the first cinema to have multi-coloured seating to add to the uplifting atmosphere.

The first ever MediCinema opened at St Thomas’ Hospital in December 1999. Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the only Trust in the country to have two cinemas.

Stephen Moore, Chief Executive of MediCinema, said: “It is our continued priority to ensure patients across the UK are able to enjoy moments of respite from their everyday concerns, in a comfortable and accessible setting.

“We are thrilled to be opening this cinema in partnership with our major donor ICAP and the support of RealD. Together, we have had the ability to make dreams a reality in creating a fantastic state-of-the-art facility for patients to enjoy.”

For more information about MediCinema visit: www.medicinema.org.uk and to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/medicinema/Donate