NHS ward host spreads joy in hospital by singing to patients
- 12 days ago
An NHS ward host goes the extra mile to put a smile on patients' faces - by singing for them.
Comfort Ghartey, 58, who has been working as a ward host since 2017, regularly sings to the patients to wake them up and raise their spirits.
Uplifting footage shows Comfort performing at the Royal London Hospital during breakfast time.
Comfort, from Hainault, Essex, said: "I am very mindful that a lot of patients may be in distress and/or simply prefer total silence and peace of mind.
"So, I don't just sing in those cases bearing in mind that some may, rightfully so, not want that."
Comfort began singing on the wards after finding out that a patient had died when she worked at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
She said: "I was about to visit a patient to take their food order when I found out the patient had suddenly died that morning.
"From that day, I made it an aim to be extremely serviceable and serene with the patients."
Comfort has previously experienced abuse from patients and believes that waking up the patients with music helps smooth her interactions.
She said: "It is very important that the patients have their breakfast because they have a schedule at which they have to take their prescriptions.
"It was tricky to try and wake them sometimes because they'd be irritated quite easily.
"There were some cases of patients verbally assaulting me or spitting at me when I tried to wake them up.
"I found that singing was a smooth way to ease my way in and the patients liked to be woken up by it."
Comfort has received positive feedback from patients, visitors and colleagues for her singing and overall positive energy.
She said: "A lady whose husband I served for a while before he passed was so pleased with my approach that she made it a point to treat me to a high-end restaurant.
"In her words: 'Comfort, I would like you to be served and not to serve for a day'."
Comfort Ghartey, 58, who has been working as a ward host since 2017, regularly sings to the patients to wake them up and raise their spirits.
Uplifting footage shows Comfort performing at the Royal London Hospital during breakfast time.
Comfort, from Hainault, Essex, said: "I am very mindful that a lot of patients may be in distress and/or simply prefer total silence and peace of mind.
"So, I don't just sing in those cases bearing in mind that some may, rightfully so, not want that."
Comfort began singing on the wards after finding out that a patient had died when she worked at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
She said: "I was about to visit a patient to take their food order when I found out the patient had suddenly died that morning.
"From that day, I made it an aim to be extremely serviceable and serene with the patients."
Comfort has previously experienced abuse from patients and believes that waking up the patients with music helps smooth her interactions.
She said: "It is very important that the patients have their breakfast because they have a schedule at which they have to take their prescriptions.
"It was tricky to try and wake them sometimes because they'd be irritated quite easily.
"There were some cases of patients verbally assaulting me or spitting at me when I tried to wake them up.
"I found that singing was a smooth way to ease my way in and the patients liked to be woken up by it."
Comfort has received positive feedback from patients, visitors and colleagues for her singing and overall positive energy.
She said: "A lady whose husband I served for a while before he passed was so pleased with my approach that she made it a point to treat me to a high-end restaurant.
"In her words: 'Comfort, I would like you to be served and not to serve for a day'."