Introduction: Theatre in Health and Care: A Developing Field

Abstract

I carried out a recent search on the NHS jobs website with the keyword ‘arts’ and it brought up 146 results — 139 of these related to posts in ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities; six were arts therapists’ posts; and one was for an assistant on an arts and health project based in the facilities directorate of a large regional hospital trust. Although unsystematic and lacking in scholarly rigour, which I acknowledge may not be the best way to begin a book, this research task does offer some information on the current position of arts in health practice in the UK. Firstly, it acknowledges the investment in health under the Labour government, which saw spending in the area double in real terms after 1997 as state-of-the-art healthcare, and particularly public health initiatives, were made a priority. Secondly, it represents a development in the status and proliferation of the art therapies within mainstream healthcare. This can particularly be seen to be related to the registration of arts therapists with the Health Professionals Council which monitors health and care practitioners. Finally, it is testament to the fact that there are arts and health professionals working within the NHS even if they are few and far between — one job out of 146 does represent an improvement.