LAUGHTER is the best medicine according to staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, who have set up a comedy room in the mental health unit.

Staff at Oxleas House, the mental health unit, hope patients will soon be laughing along with French and Saunders, or chuckling at classics, like Morecambe and Wise.

The room will have books, a television and video and a stereo for listening to tapes and CDs.

The aim is to give patients the opportunity to enjoy the health benefits of laughter, which research shows often helps them relax and communicate better with carers.

Residents are being asked to help the project by donating unwanted funny material to the unit, which serves mentally ill people and those with learning disabilities from Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich.

Any donations of videos, CDs, tapes, books or magazines for the comedy collection should be sent to Maryon Ward, Oxleas House, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, SE18 4QH.

December 13, 2001 17:23

Sarah Warden