Book review: Our Storeys: Art and Poetry in Healthcare

Our Storeys is an examination of the relationship between art and creative writing, and the provision of healthcare. Written by artist Sue Ridge and the poet John Davies, the book is a collection of essays, poetry and visual pieces, with contributions from high profile artists and poets. Contributors to the book include three poet laureates: Carol Ann Duffy, Andrew Motion and Michael Rosen.

The book is also an often-moving account of the author's project to create a space for art at North Middlesex University Hospital in London. I found the passages that detail the struggle to give the patients and staff their own 'voices' as part of the project particularly illuminating, and it demonstrated how patients can be involved in projects like this. Admittedly, I know very little about the process of creating art, but I thought the explanations of how the challenges of providing care provided the authors with inspiration for the project were fascinating.