Piano players prove the best medicine

Two Staff Nurses at New Cross Hospital have been entertaining people by playing a baby grand piano in the foyer of the Heart and Lung Centre, where they both work.

Nikko Phodaca, 34, who is based in the Integrated Critical Care Unit (ICCU), and Daniel Aboyeji, 29, who works on B15 Catheter Suite, tinkle the ivories before or after their shifts, or during breaks.

The piano was donated by the family of Cecil Billing, the father of Dr Stephen Billing, 59, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) in July.

And its arrival is the start of a vision of The RWT Charity to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.

Amanda Winwood, RWT Charity Development Manager, said:

“We wanted to enhance the environment for our patients and staff by creating a soothing atmosphere.  We have found staff enjoy playing the piano during their breaks to entertain patients, visitors and colleagues – we also have two Porters interested, one of whom has done his piano grades.

“But we also want it to be a magnet for musicians of the future. We want to have a rota of students from universities and musical groups to coming in to play it to continue the positive effect of health and wellbeing on everyone who comes into the Heart and Lung Centre.”

The piano has some history in healthcare too as Cecil, who died aged 87 last November, used to entertain residents at Compton Care, where he volunteered as a driver after retiring.

Nikko arrived in the UK from The Philippines at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Growing up in a musical household, he has played the violin for 28 years and is self-taught with the piano.

“When we were growing up, we didn’t have a TV and were only allowed to play on our computer for as long as we had practised on our instruments,” recalled Nikko. “Our house was filled with music.

“I can play 60 or 70 songs. I like to cover pop songs – I love Lionel Richie, Born For You by Daniel Pomeranz, Shallow by Lady GaGa, a couple from Adele and Sam Smith, plus Coldplay, Bruno Mars and songs from Disney.

“But I also like to play old love ballads from The Philippines – they remind me of home.

“The first time I played in the Heart and Lung lobby, my line manager videoed me and put it on the ICCU Facebook page.

“When I play the piano, I get totally immersed in the music and I’m lost in what I’m doing and the melody of the piano.

“Sometimes I get goosebumps from playing, and when I hear people clapping on the stairs I get shy!”

After posting his violin playing on Facebook during lockdown, Nikko was asked to perform for colleagues during staff handover at shift change, and he played an emotional version of Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’.

Daniel, who has worked for RWT for a year, has been playing piano for a decade after teaching himself on YouTube at home in Nigeria.

He prefers classical music but loves ‘Let Her Go’ by Passenger and Oceans’ ‘Where Feet May Fail’, and also plays at the Dominion City Church in Wolverhampton City Centre.

“I saw the piano in the lobby for a while before playing it, and when I did start, it was the first time I’d played since I was in Nigeria,” he said.

“I listen to a lot of music and play whatever inspires me – I just love playing.

“I’ve received a lot of positive comments and hearing them makes me want to play.”

Wolverhampton-born Mr Billing said: “My dad loved playing the piano and to donate it just seemed like a nice thing to do, just like they have pianos in railway stations.

“It raises spirits when people play it – the music spreads through the Heart and Lung Centre and you can hear it down the corridors. I think it makes the atrium a less aseptic place.”

The Charity supported with costs for the piano to be dismantled and removed from Mr Billing senior’s house and re-assembled, along with a donation plaque.

It also arranged for cabinets displaying the Arts and Heritage healthcare collection to be moved to accommodate the piano.