NHS staff star in musical on antibiotic resistance

NHS staff star in musical on antibiotic resistance1 day agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAlpa PatelLondonBBCProf Ashley Brown and Dr Mainga Bhima are among those taking from the wards to the stageA musical exploring the global threat of antibiotic resistance has made its London premiere, featuring a chorus of 60 NHS healthcare workers.Lifeline follows the story of Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington in 1928, weaving his historical journey with a contemporary narrative centred on a junior doctor in Edinburgh. The production aims to highlight the urgent reality of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a crisis Fleming himself warned of decades ago.Prof Ashley Brown, a consultant at St Mary's who has worked at the institution for 25 years, said "singing is good for the heart". Lifeline runs at the Southwark Playhouse in Elephant and Castle until 2 MayBrown described balancing his clinical responsibilities with rehearsals as a challenge, often heading to the theatre during his breaks before returning to the wards.The production's chorus is comprised entirely of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and microbiologists."Everyone should sing more often," Brown said. "I think we should be able to prescribe singing on the NHS because I think it would cure a lot of ills."Producer Robin Hiley said the musical's story has proven an "easy sell" to audiencesDr Mainga Bhima, who is also part of the company, said that while managing the demands of the doctor's rota required careful planning and shift swaps, the experience of performing provided a different kind of energy."It's kind of energising in a different way. I never feel tired when I leave the theatre , even if I felt tired when I came in."The musical, written by Robin Hiley and Becky Hope-Palmer, previously made history as the first musical to be performed on the floor of the Unite...