Our National Health Stories

A powerful artwork celebrating the stories of the people that make up our NHS. Our National Health Stories was an unprecedented collaboration between 19 NHS trusts across England and a creative team led by Kwame Kwei-Armah. It built upon, and shone a light on, the incredible and diverse work – often hidden from public view – of the National Arts in Hospitals Network.

In the 75th anniversary year of the National Health Service, the programme engaged thousands of NHS staff to explore, share and reflect upon what being part of the NHS means to them, what it stands for, and the impact it has had on their lives.

The project has been nominated for a Royal Society for Public Health Health & Wellbeing Award 2024 in the Arts & Health category.

A group of people performing on stage — NHS staff from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust perform at Our National Health Stories finale. Photo by Chris Payne

A portrait of an organisation through its people

Each unique story was told through artwork of all different forms – music, poetry, drawings, paintings, film – developed during a six-month nationwide engagement programme by and with staff.

Our National Health Stories culminated in November 2023, with a day-long series of events in hospitals across England, curated by Kwei-Armah and the creative team, taking place as a relay across England, followed by a live show at the Aviva Studios, home to Factory International, in Manchester. These finale events stitched together the multitude of individual stories to create a striking portrait of an organisation through its people, providing a window for all of us to powerfully explore, share and reflect upon the profound impact of the NHS on our public life.

Two people holding up signs saying Laugh and smiling at each other — Our National Health Stories live finale. Photo by Chris Payne

Watch the Finale Live Stream from Manchester

Watch the Performances from Trusts

The Creative Team

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director
Chris Bush, Writer
Jennifer Tang, Associate Director
Ruth Chan, Composer
Teunkie Van Der Sluijs, Dramaturg
Emma Dunton, Creative Director
Damian Hebron, Engagement Producer

Kwame Kwei-Armah, St George's Staff Choir and ONHS Live performers on stage clapping and smiling — Our National Health Stories finale. Image credit Chris Payne

The Trusts

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
University Hospitals of Leicester
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Read the Evaluation Report

READ THE REPORT

A stage full of performers with their arms raised an smiling. An audience looks on with their arms also raised — Our National Health Stories finale. Photo by Chris Payne

The project was funded by Arts Council England, NHS Charities Together in partnership with NHS England. It was made possible through the support in kind of the 19 participating NHS Trusts and funding from their hospital charities.