Cheshire Wirral Partnership - Research Conference

The presentation, experiential workshop and exhibition for 100 health practitioners took place at an annual event which shares good practice across the Cheshire Wirral Partnership (CWP) NHS Trust. The highly innovative ComMA research programme was nominated by CWP for a recognition award and shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to Research Development and Innovation. The presentation and experiential workshop explained how patients and artists together explored sexual problems encountered following cancer treatment. This novel and highly collaborative approach empowered patients to use art and new forms of artistic expression as an alternative language to express and communicate their feelings of emotional and physical trauma using visual metaphors. ComMA enabled patients to explore and express their feelings through the use of collage and drawing on items such as gowns, which had a deep meaning in the context of their treatment, to enable them to express their feelings and to seek appropriate support. Work co-produced by the artists and patients was shared at the workshop to allow health professionals to understand these issues from a patient’s perspective.