Over 2600 attend screenings in first 6 months of MediCinema at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Thursday 3rd September marks the 6-month anniversary of MediCinema at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. In that time, an incredible 2638 young patients and their families and carers have enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of the shared cinema experience during their hospital stay.
The MediCinema officially opened its doors on 3rd March with a special preview of Disney’s Hoppers and iconic duo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, welcoming our young VIP guests.
Currently the largest MediCinema in the UK, the converted lecture theatre has 84 brightly coloured seats, 2 recliners and space for wheelchairs and hospital beds.
Bringing the magic of cinema
From special preview screenings and character visits to personal screenings for vulnerable patients and ‘fun in the foyer’ with themed arts and crafts, patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital have been shown the full MediCinema experience.
In the first 6 months we have seen:
- 2638 children, young people and their families attending 122 screenings
- 105 patients attending a screening in their hospital beds
- 18 personal screenings for vulnerable patients or those receiving end of life care providing families the chance to build lasting memories and moments of connection
- 12 Tailored Screenings for dedicated outpatient groups including young mental health support group and Teenage Cancer Trust
- 2 special preview screenings with Hoppers and Paw Patrol The Dino Movie screened for patients ahead of general cinema release
- 2 extra-special character visits including the iconic duo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as the Toy Story 5 gang – Woody, Buzz and Jessie
![get_sub_field('image')['alt']](https://www.medicinema.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Disney_Approvals_HighRes__15-1440x1015.jpg)
Patient feedback is already reflecting the impact that the new service is having for patients and their families:
“Being able to come to MediCinema meant far more to us than simply watching a film. Hospital life can be incredibly challenging, and opportunities to spend quality time together as a family can be rare. Especially as we are self-isolating. MediCinema Bham gave us a chance to step away from appointments, treatments, and worries for a little while and just enjoy being together."
Parent of young patient
Transforming the hospital experience
10-year-old Charlotte was recovering from life-changing brain surgery when she was invited to the opening of the brand new MediCinema at Birmingham Children’s Hospital back in March.
Having suffered from a stroke as a baby, she had experienced a lifetime of distressing seizures and spasms undergoing extensive neurosurgery to alleviate her symptoms.
Charlotte’s mum, Jaimee explains how difficult the treatment had been for Charlotte and the family:
Explaining to a child living with learning disabilities that they need to have surgery, isn’t an easy thing to do. Then in the recovery phase you must try to make her rest, keep still, and mostly lie down – but that involves Charlotte just staring at the same spot on the ceiling. The boredom and frustration can really set in, and as parent, there isn’t a lot you can do about it. When the chance to visit the new MediCinema appeared, we didn’t hesitate to accept.
Coming to the MediCinema gave them all the relief and escape they needed with the excitement and magic of the experience even helping with Charlotte’s recovery:
The cinema visit was such perfect timing for us, and I’m sure it played a part in Charlotte’s recovery. It reminded her what she was missing out on, I think she thought – ‘I don’t have to stay in here’. The next day she was so happy, she had so much energy and was up and walking about. By the following week she was allowed to go home.
![get_sub_field('image')['alt']](https://www.medicinema.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SM-BCH-Medicinema-115.jpg)
Read more about Charlotte and Jaimee’s experience.
Rose Adamson, Cinema Manager, and Isabel Baumber, Deputy Cinema Manager, have been instrumental in getting the new MediCinema up and running and integrated within the services of the hospital.
Since launch they have built up a team of 32 MediCinema nurses and 16 dedicated volunteers who support each of the four weekly inpatient screenings as well as special and personal screenings and our Tailored Screening Programme.
It's been an incredible start for our MediCinema at BCH! It's been so heart warming to build relationships with returning patients who attend our regular screenings and provide special personal screenings for those that need it. We've got a great group of nurses and wonderful volunteers, I'm very excited to see what the next 6 months brings us with Halloween and Christmas movies on the horizon!
Rose Adamson, Cinema Manager, Birmingham Children's Hospital
It's been an incredible first six months of our MediCinema, which has been received enthusiastically by our young patients and their families. The MediCinema has provided countless opportunities for our children to escape their wards for some respite and, as we expected, is having a positive impact on their hospital experience. This is exactly why we wanted to bring a MediCinema to our hospital. We're thrilled by the response.
Tammy Davies, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
The MediCinema creates a space where patients and families, who sometimes spend weeks and months in hospital, can spend quality time together away from the wards, providing meaningful respite, reducing feelings of isolation, anxiety and stress and providing some normality during what can be challenging times.
The MediCinema at Birmingham Children’s hospital is run in partnership between MediCinema, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
![get_sub_field('image')['alt']](https://www.medicinema.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Toy_Story_Medicinema_HighRes_127-1440x961.jpg)
