Hospital Engagement & Libraries (HEaL) project –
Somerset libraries working with NHS to support health & wellbeing
In June 2024 SWRLS awarded a grant to this initiative led by Somerset Libraries.
HEaL is an innovative project running from summer 2024-2025, whereby people in primary care settings are ‘referred’ to our libraries as a safe, welcoming space to support health and wellbeing. Musgrove Park Hospital (part of Somerset NHS FT which is a SWRLS Member) is offering ‘taster’ activity sessions, led by a commissioned activity coach. Sessions include the use of a highly engaging interactive projector (already proven to be highly beneficial for people with dementia and mobility challenges). Alongside this they can engage with NHS knowledge and information staff for help with accessing health information. Patients can then sign up for free sessions in the library, delivered and led by Freelance activity coaches, and assisted by library staff. The library sessions include further use of the interactive projector, plus a rotating programme of other fun low-impact activities such a virtual reality games, yoga, Pilates, boccia, indoor archery, indoor tennis and indoor cricket. The opportunity is also used to showcase the wide range of free health-related resources available in the library, including the Reading Well collection, loanable blood pressure monitors, activity watches, iPads (pre-loaded with health and wellbeing information), a static health monitor, and regular ‘Tech Help’ sessions delivered by library staff (e.g to assist digital access for online health information).
The project has been very popular in libraries, with 88 different attendees across 4 libraries, and 747 individual attendances as of May 2025. Some key statistics on impact include:
73% of survey respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the sessions had helped improve their physical fitness and mobility
86% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the sessions had helped improve their mental wellbeing
19% of those attending were not already library members
73% of survey respondents had started doing some degree of increased exercise as a result of attending the sessions
68% of survey respondents gave a rating of 5/10 or higher to the question ‘Has your understanding of how to manage your own health improved as a result of attending these sessions?’. 23% of survey respondents gave a rating of 10/10 to this question.
Additionally the below gives a sample of the type of qualitative feedback we’ve received:
“Great to go to a SAFE and Friendly setting to try new things, meet people and improve my health and wellbeing.”
“I enjoy everything! This is one of the few things I can attend successfully. Coming here means the world to me."
“The services offered in our Bridgwater Library ARE AMAZING. The low impact exercise tasters sessions have made such a difference to my VISUALLY IMPAIRED FRIEND. She had such a big smile all day as she was able to understand and keep up with everyone. She didn’t feel blind! Now today she opened a library card.”
Running sessions in hospitals has been more challenging than expected. Whilst staff enthusiasm has been high, limited space has made it very difficult to find a suitable location for sessions. We run them in the hospital discharge lounge, which has the benefit of reaching people who are ready to leave hospital, but the negative is that at this point patients are often frustrated at the long discharge process and not so keen to engage. However, we have had many meaningful interactions this way and it has also been an excellent opportunity to engage with hospital staff who are then able to promote the session to patients. Equally, cuts in the NHS budget have resulted in reduced capacity within the hospital library, which has in turn led to a limit in their ability to attend sessions, but they have been excellent advocates for the public library service, ensuring that the project is promoted in all the right places.
The sessions continue to run until the end of 2025 thanks to external funding and investment from our Public Health team. The model is robust, and thanks to our excellent delivery partners – Nova Sport – the sessions continue to be popular and attract repeat attendees. It has helped to raise our profile within the wider health and social care sector in Somerset, and in turn improved understanding of the central role that libraries can play in addressing the county’s health needs. In the future we hope to expand sessions out to more user groups such as those with more specific health needs or an inter-generational project that encourages more movement in children. We are happy to discuss the model with any interested library authorities. Please contact Alex Cunningham-Scott – Alexandra.cunninghamscott@somerset.gov.uk