Delirium animations

What is Delirium? – Dr Sophia Bennett and Dr Mani Krishnan

Non-pharmacological methods to prevent and manage delirium – Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

2016 – What is Delirium?

In 2016, we worked with Dr Sophia Bennett and Dr Mani Krishnan to create the What is Delirium? animation. Since then, the animation has gone from strength to strength and has been used worldwide in a number of different training programs, teaching people from the UK to Australia how to recognise the symptoms of delirium.

A still from the What is Delirium? animation

Fast-forward to 2023…

We were approached by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), together with NELFT NHS Foundation Trust, who had seen the original film and wanted us to produce an animation that would teach staff about how to approach delirium in a holistic way and create a culture of good delirium care.

Creating the digital animation

Our animation, editing and filming techniques have come a long way since 2016, but our commitment to delivering health and social care messaging in a clear and accessible manner is as important to us as ever.

We were kindly provided with ward images by the critical care staff at BHRUT to make sure that our drawings were an accurate reflection of the setting for the Non-pharmacological methods to prevent and manage delirium digital animation.

Delirium can be a highly distressing condition; it was important that the images show this but that they do so in a sensitive way. Artist Rosie Hunter used a soft palate of muted tones based on the NHS brand colours, which helps convey a sense of calm that is in line with the message of the animation.

We also worked with the team to develop character designs that would show a wide range of patients in terms of age and background as although it may be more associated with older patients, delirium is a condition that can affect anyone.