More than a sympathetic ear? A report on the first year of a writer in residence in a unit for young, physically disabled people

Abstract

Objective: To describe a writer in residence scheme and report the views of patients and staff. Design: Qualitative study including interviews with patients, a questionnaire survey of staff, and dialogue with the writer. Setting: A unit for young people with physical disability. Subjects: A convenience sample of patients admitted to the unit and members of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. Intervention: A writer in residence working 15 hours per week in the unit. Results: A small number of patients worked regularly with the writer and this led to the publication of a play, short stories and poems. Patients described wide ranging benefits including improvements in mood state. Staff regarded the writer in residence scheme as enhancing their treatment and care and thought it helpful in addressing their own psychological needs. The writer saw herself as a catalyst ‘for the creativity of others'. Conclusion: Such schemes have an important role to play in rehabilitation settings.