Patients receiving dialysis treatment at Raigmore Hospital now have the opportunity to explore their creativity during treatment sessions, as NHS Highland's pioneering Art on Dialysis project got underway this week.
Following the successful launch of the initiative earlier this year, artist Morag Smith has now been appointed as the project's Artist in Residence and has begun working with patients in the Raigmore Hospital Renal Unit. The year-long pilot project is funded by NHS Highland Charity and aims to transform treatment time into an opportunity for creativity, connection and self-expression.
The Renal Service at Raigmore Hospital provides specialist care for people living with kidney disease across the Highlands and Islands. Many patients spend hours each week undergoing dialysis treatment, and the Art on Dialysis project has been designed to offer meaningful creative opportunities that can support wellbeing, reduce boredom and help people focus on something positive during treatment.
Based at WASPS Links Studios in Nairn, Morag Smith is a contemporary artist whose work explores landscape, people and place through installation, printmaking, sculpture and participatory arts. Over the past several years she has led a wide range of community-based creative projects across the Highlands and Moray, working alongside organisations including High Life Highland Rangers, Moray Rape Crisis and Scottish Canals.
As Artist in Residence, Morag will work directly with patients to develop creative activities shaped around their interests, abilities and goals. No previous artistic experience will be needed, and activities will be adapted to suit the dialysis environment and the needs of individual participants.
Morag said: "I love to dispel people's fears around art and creativity, to forget what we may have been told at school, and to have fun exploring other ways of thinking. I enjoy finding the 'interest thread' that each of us has, and following it to see where it might go. I find that being creative hooks me into the here and now, so I can forget the yesterdays, the to-do lists and the tomorrows and I anticipate participants will gain something similar: space outside treatment, even briefly, and something absorbing that's their own. Working creatively naturally involves talking and being sociable, which can spark new lines of thinking, and I hope to help create that kind of connection. Ultimately, I would like people to leave with plenty to take forward into their life, and with the feeling that life is not just about treatment."
Ashley Powell, Advanced Nurse Specialist in Renal Support and Palliative Care with NHS Highland, said: "Living with kidney disease and attending regular dialysis treatment can have a significant impact on people's lives. While our focus is always on delivering excellent clinical care, we also recognise the importance of supporting wellbeing. Morag brings a wealth of experience in participatory arts and community engagement, and we are excited to see patients benefit from the creativity, connection and sense of achievement that this project can foster. We hope Art on Dialysis will help make treatment time more rewarding and enjoyable for those who take part."
The Art on Dialysis project was developed in response to feedback from patients and the experiences of other dialysis units across Scotland, where similar initiatives have demonstrated the positive impact creativity can have on wellbeing and quality of life. The project is participatory and patient-led, encouraging people to explore creative activities at their own pace while spending time in the renal unit.
Over the coming year, the project will support patients to develop their own creative work, with plans for a celebratory exhibition showcasing artwork created through the programme. The exhibition will provide an opportunity to celebrate participants' achievements and share their experiences with families, staff and the wider community.
The Art on Dialysis project has been made possible through a generous legacy gift from former renal patient Christine Mackay, helping to bring something extra to patient care and support wellbeing alongside clinical treatment.