Every Monday, the sound of singing and a ukulele can be heard travelling through the halls of Whakatāne Hospital.

Led by chaplain Rev Kiri Hayward, a small group of volunteers make their way through the hospital weekly, singing to patients, whānau and staff.

The tradition began about 10 years ago in the hospital chapel during a training programme for volunteer chaplain assistants.

Chaplain and trainer Peter Lander noticed members of the group enjoyed singing and dancing and thought singing to patients could help “to cheer them up”.

He led the group into the hospital corridors with a collection of old sing-along songs, initially without any musical backing.

Whaea Bunny, husband Dennis Hayes, and friends with ukuleles soon joined them, and the Hospital Chaplaincy Ukulele Club became a regular part of the chaplaincy team’s pastoral care.

Long-term patients, visiting families and staff began looking forward to the singing each Monday, with the group sometimes being asked to enter the wards, so patients could see them and join in.

Hayward became involved in 2020 after the passing of her husband.

The singing group had entered his room in Medical 15 and sung to him and his whānau the day before he died.

Hayward was not there at the time and said she was disappointed to have missed the singing, but it encouraged her to find out more about the group.

This led to her meeting Lander, joining the volunteer chaplain assistant training and eventually becoming a chaplain.

The Covid-19 pandemic later ended the volunteer chaplain assistants’ involvement in the hospital, and several members did not return afterwards.

Today, Hayward leads the singing team on Mondays, accompanied by long-term volunteer chaplain assistant Mereana Arnold, Ngāti Awa kaumātua Sonia Rogers and Titoki Hirini.

The volunteers give their time and share their passion for singing, with Hayward accompanying the group on her ukulele.

The group usually starts at 11am and finishes around 1.30pm, visiting the renal unit, Surgical, Medical and ACU wards, and occasionally the emergency department and admission waiting room.

Hayward said the group chose songs based on the people they were visiting and asked patients if they had any requests.

“We are carrying out the tradition started by Chaplain Peter Lander 10 years ago to provide singing for the patients, whānau and staff, The intention is to uplift the spirits and bring comfort to those who are unwell.”

The response from patients and staff varies, but Hayward said many joined in with the singing or dancing.

Some patients step into the corridors to sing and dance, while others ask the group for an encore when they finish.

Hayward said some patients were moved to tears by the music, while families in ACU would thank the group for hymns they found comforting.

She especially enjoys seeing people with dementia respond to the singing.

She said music could sometimes bring people out of the world they were lost in and see them become “alive” and respond to the music.

Most responses are positive but Hayward said there had been a handful of occasions over the years when patients had closed their doors.

“We don’t know what pain or emotional challenges they may be dealing with when they close their doors.”

For Hayward, the Monday singing sessions are about more than simply entertaining people.

“It is about making people happy, and we get that when people say, ‘Thank you, you have made my day.’”