Getting to know you… Paula O’Malley

Getting to know you…

This month we spoke to Paula O’Malley, Healing Arts Manager, who loves seeing the transformation of patients through live performance and also has a passion for playing board games!

How long have you worked in our hospitals?

I started in 2007 on a project to record the history of Aintree Hospital through artwork, it was a great way to get to know people across all disciplines. I realised that it needed more than one person so recruited my first students from the University of Liverpool. The project was a success and I was taken on permanently in 2008. I’ve developed a strong student-led arts programme since.

What does your role involve?

I use art in all its forms to improve the patient and staff experience as well as improve the built environment and engage with the wider hospital and local communities. I run a student-led programme to plan and curate art exhibitions, commission specific art pieces for refurbishments and new builds, manage our sculpture herd of Superlambananas and Penguins, supplement the professional performers that perform on our wards and plan and manage events for the entertainment of patients and staff.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Maghull when it was much more rural than it is today and spent lots of summers picking peas, strawberries and raspberries on the local farms for extra pocket money. Now I live on the coast in Blundellsands.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

It’s lovely working with and mentoring young people. It's great to see an initiative adopted by the Trust such as an improving the environment project ‘Safehaven: transforming relatives’ rooms project’ which was rolled out across Aintree. And before the pandemic the monthly market and music events and weekly live performances on DMOPs.

What are your highlights during your time at LUHFT?

Bringing the Capital of Culture onto the Aintree site and continuing that cultural offer ever since. Seeing the transformation of patients through live performance on wards is incredible. A man who wouldn’t speak after a tracheotomy removal but sang along to Elvis, the dementia patients on the DMOP wards who join in word perfect to show tunes. Edge Hill's music and dance project in 2019/20 ‘Glide into Broadway’. This year every student nurse will spend at least a day with the arts department.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I have an allotment and I love board games and play mah-jong with friends, scrabble with my parents and 30-minute monopoly with my grandchildren.

What’s your favourite thing about Liverpool?

Having lived away and abroad I always missed the camaraderie of just striking up a conversation with someone as is normal in Liverpool, so the people really. I love the coast and the sea and our fabulous parks all over the city.

What’s your favourite restaurant or café?

When I have a hankering for Arabic food (I used to live in the Middle East) I go to Bakchich, or to the Liverpool 8 Superstore to get the authentic ingredients. My hidden secret is L21 at Hugh Baird college, fine dining but cooked and served by students.

What’s your favourite film or song?

‘We are family’ always get me on the dance floor!

You win the lottery, what’s your dream holiday?

I’d treat my own family, parents, sisters and their families to a world cruise to catch up with our extended family.

You’re stranded on an island, what three items would you want with you?

Seed potatoes, playing cards and a Swiss army knife.