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BETHLEM MOTHER AND BABY UNIT 2021
In May 2021 Hospital Rooms worked with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) to bring world-class art to the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at Bethlem Royal Hospital, an inpatient perinatal mental health unit for women.
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
In May 2021 Hospital Rooms worked with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) to bring world-class art to the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at Bethlem Royal Hospital, an inpatient perinatal mental health unit for women. Bethlem MBU is one of only a handful of units in the UK that allows women to live alongside their baby while receiving treatment for a wide range of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, bipolar, psychosis and personality disorders. It prioritises women who have been the victim of sexual abuse, have been the victim of domestic violence or abuse, have children in their care and need maximum potential for contact, or are pregnant. As part of Hospital Rooms’ commitment to co-production and collaboration, service users, staff and artists took part in a series of art workshops throughout Spring 2021 to discuss and inspire the work that the artists produced.
Anna Testar
Senior Project Curator
Anna is a medium height white woman with longish red hair. Her pronouns are she/her. She was born and raised in London.
Anna leads on Hospital Rooms projects, working with artists, NHS staff and patients and arts and community organisations to bring art and creativity to inpatient mental health wards. Anna studied Fine Art and History of Art at university. She spent a decade working in museums and galleries before joining Hospital Rooms in August 2021. Anna’s favourite artist is Käthe Kollwitz. Having recently moved to Cornwall, she now spends all her spare time in the sea.
I really like the pictures on the wall in the Visitors Room. They’re like pictures of emotion – you’re happy, you’re working, you’re thinking, dancing. When I first came here and I saw that, I was just looking at the pictures on the wall. I was really intrigued, asking who painted them. I thought it was the mums as I could really relate to them. Especially the girl with plant, sitting there thinking.
Thank You
This project was supported by a wide variety of partners without whom it would not be possible. We are very grateful to: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM)