IT’S well known that music can improve health and wellbeing.

Now, patients at Glasgow’s two biggest hospitals will reap the immune-boosting benefits with the addition of two pianos, christened Mabel and Molly.

The specially commissioned pianos have been installed in Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as part of the NHS 70th anniversary celebrations.

The instruments were sourced through Glasgow Piano City’s Pianos in Public Places initiative which has been running since the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Both pianos have been decorated in tandem as ‘twin sisters’ with a design inspired by two women with very distinctive true life stories.

Mable is in memory of Mabel McKinley, of the Dorcas Society church mission, who saw the need for a cup of tea for outpatients waiting to be seen at clinics.

She launched a non-profit tea service five days a week and the Mabel McKinley tearoom is still providing tea, coffee and snacks at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The piano has been placed near the tearoom in her honour.

Her twin, Molly, is in honour of Henrietta Lacks, a black American woman who died in 1951, aged just 31, from cervical cancer.

Her case and ‘HeLa’ cells formed the basis for the study of drugs, hormones and viruses on the growth of cancer cells without experimenting on humans.

Research has shown that music in particular has psychological, physical and biological benefits within healthcare settings as it reduces levels of stress and anxiety.

The pianos will be available for patients, visitors, staff and musicians.

John Stuart, interim director of the north sector for NHSGGC, said: “I was pleased to be invited to offer a vote of thanks to the Dorcus Society and staff in the Mabel McGinley tearoom in Glasgow Royal Infirmary for their care and support.

“The tearoom holds a very special place in the hearts of the staff and patients at the GRI, providing much needed respite from the workings of a busy hospital. It was also great to see Mabel the piano, which was gifted to us by the Piano Project.

“We are supportive of the quest to bring music to public spaces and there is no better place to brighten up the atmosphere than here at the GRI.”

The striking design of the beautiful twin pianos was a collaboration between Glasgow Piano City artists Tom Binns and Kayleigh McCallum with help from Zoe Pearson and is inspired by microscopic images of ‘HeLa’ cells.