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From Nurse to Patient: Chloe’s MediCinema Story

29th Sep 2026

Chloe works as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. She also supports patients at screenings as a MediCinema nurse and sees first–hand the impact it can have for patients.

But it wasn’t until she became ill herself that she truly understood what a visit to the MediCinema can do for someone in hospital.  This is her story:  

 

My experience of attending St Thomas’ MediCinema as a patient, is probably quite different to 99% of the patients that normally attend – partly because I have been working there as a MediCinema nurse, looking after patients during screenings, for around 4 years.  

 

I didn’t imagine that one day, I’d attend the MediCinema as a patient, rather than a nurse – but in retrospect, I’m so glad that I did.  

 

I typically work in the ICU, attending to people that are facing high stress scenarios every day. I try to encourage my patients and their families to take a break in the MediCinema for a little respite from their worries. I love the fact that when I work as a nurse for MediCinema, I am helping to spread a little joy around the hospital. I have always loved films and signed up to work for the charity as soon as MediCinema opened here. 

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Chloe at the Pop-Up MediCinema at St Thomas’ Hospital with petting dog, Summer (above)

 

My own MediCinema patient experience started when I became hypoglycaemic at work a few months ago and was rushed to A&E in my nursing uniform.  

 

I was feeling absolutely exhausted, and needed my bloods taken every few hours. I ended up being admitted to hospital for about a week. The tables had turned, and my mental health was not good for the first couple of days as I tried to get a good night’s sleep and come to terms with what was happening to me. 

 

Like many of the patients in this hospital, my immediate family don’t live in London. My dad, who is in his 70’s, lives in Devon, so it was impossible for him to visit me. However, I was so lucky that my “MediCinema family” closed ranks and looked after me in the best way they could, by inviting me along to the cinema for a screening. 

Coming to the MediCinema was a lifeline for me – the visit made me smile and laugh for the first time during my recent hospital admission – of course I’m a bit biased though, as normally I work there as a MediCinema nurse.

I didn’t really have the energy to do very much at that stage, but coming to see a film was the perfect low impact activity. My health had taken such a sudden turn that I didn’t have any of my own clothes with me and was wearing a pink hospital gown, so I was a little sensitive and nervous about going. I needn’t have worried, on arrival MediCinema Manager, John, was so kind, he gave me a VIP seat at the front and brought me in a little early for a chat, guessing that I’d be feeling vulnerable about attending as an audience member rather than a nurse. It was such a refreshing change of scene from life on the ward. I was so relaxed during the film; it was just bliss.

Until you are a patient in hospital yourself, you don’t really appreciate how powerful a trip to MediCinema is. It was my only escape from the medical world. I guarantee you, about half an hour into a movie, that your body will relax, and all your worries will melt away, even if for a short while. I regularly see the difference in patients when they arrive and leave the cinema with my own eyes, the positive effect can be seen on their faces.

My weeks admission has helped me put myself in patients’ shoes. I’m more empathetic and I’ve realised just how easy it might be to say ‘no’ to a MediCinema invite when you are not feeling well. Coming to see a film, even for five minutes, gets you out of your room. It’s a small first step in building confidence and a more positive mindset.