Artists transform beds into art to change attitudes to bed-blocking

Beds have been converted into art in a bid by artists to change attitudes and highlight how damaging bed-blocking is to people’s health and wellbeing, as well as the economy.

A group of 17 artists are taking part in the campaign by transforming a bed into an art installation and putting them on display in cities across the UK.

Bed-blocking occurs when there is a ‘delayed transfer of care’ when a patient is ready to leave a hospital or similar care provider but is still occupying a bed. This can cause distress to the patient and longer stays in hospital, which are linked to an increased risk of infections, low mood and less motivation.

In addition it reduces the number of beds available to other patients. It is also very expensive with Age UK calculating that delayed discharges from hospital costs the NHS around £3bn a year.

Pete Dowds, chief executive of Elder, a care provider offering live-in care and home care, founded the campaign. He said: “This is the very first movement of its kind. Bringing together artists, doctors and innovators. It’s not about lobbying for more money, it’s about shifting attitudes, and these installations really provoke a response.”

The installations include a figure trapped in a web of different coloured lines standing by a bed, a bed frame covered with images linked with sleep and a sculpture of hands, feet and a heart on a bed.

Artist Caitlin Dick has created the installation ‘Under Pressure’ which is a sculpture of hands, feet and a heart and this is displayed in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.

She said: “How uncomfortable it must be for individuals being in that situation, so I wanted to raise awareness of that. By putting the viewer into that position, feeling uncomfortable.”

She added: “Elder's campaign to end 'bed-blocking' hits close to home for me. Four years ago, my grandfather had a major stroke and if we weren’t as lucky to have family living in the same village and able to care for him, who knows what would have happened.

“My personal experience is not a rare occurrence, it is extremely relatable and a horrendous event to go through.

“'Under Pressure' is a hopeful exploration of what can sometimes feel like a hopeless situation. Many older people throughout the UK can be trapped in hospital because of a lack of care in the community, preventing them from returning to normal life and preventing other older persons from accessing the hospital beds they require when unwell.

“'Under Pressure' consists of the juxtaposition of the clinical and the personal, contrasting the hard and emotionless cement, metal and plastic with the human form. Hands, feet and a heart present the remnants of the body, a reflection on prolonged experiences in a hospital.”

Artist Julien Masson has created the art installation ‘Tangle’ which is displayed at the Keeper’s Gallery Space in Southampton. This is a figure of a man made from different coloured strands on a bed frame.

He said: “The subject is close to my heart as members of my family have had to face such a situation. I am happy to contribute to this project and help raise awareness of the problem about 'bed blocking'.

“The piece I created for this project represents a figure trapped in a web of lines. The complex network of strands symbolises a labyrinthine allocation system that leads to the problem of 'bed blocking'.”

Elder hopes the campaign will spread awareness and bring an end to what it calls the “misleading” label of bed-blocking. It also wants to see some innovative solutions as a result.

The art campaign will culminate on 11 October with a display of all the art installations in London.

For more information on the campaign go to endbedblocking.org.