EVERY person has that one track or artist which can send them from the heights of concern and panic into the realms of pure relaxation.

For some it’s Beyonce, others Elton John - some even Coldplay.

And now, one leading Southampton-based surgeon is calling for all patients to be offered the chance to listen to music during procedures to reduce pain and anxiety.

Bhaskar Somani, a consultant urological surgeon at university Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, believes allowing patients to have their own soundtrack whilst they undergo treatment is a “practical, cheap and harmless” way to encourage people to have procedures now and in the future.

Mr Somani’s comments come following his team’s review of 1,900 patients in 15 international studies who attended urology outpatient appointments for a range of procedures and investigations including biopsies, kidney tube placement and kidney stone removal known as shockwave lithotripsy.

Southampton-led analysis, published in the Journal of Urology, found a reduction in pain and anxiety among patients who listened to music in 90 per cent of the studies, while overall satisfaction was better in 53 per cent and the willingness to repeat the procedure was higher in 40%.

He said: “In the modern era, the volume of urological procedures delivered on an outpatient basis has risen and many of these are carried our under local anaesthesia.

“However, from the patient perspective, the experience of undergoing such procedures – not just in urology but across medical and surgical specialties – while awake can cause pain and anxiety.”

Mr Somani, who is based at Southampton General Hospital, said proven benefits, low cost and simplicity of music therapy presented a “strong case” for a wider rollout across specialties.

He added: “A clear strength of music is its low cost, non-invasive nature and ease of delivery and a pathway to set up such a service would be relatively straightforward to implement.

“Furthermore, it could be tailored to a specific procedure being performed and, unlike pharmacological strategies, there are no adverse effects.

“As a result, I think there is a very strong case for all patients to be offered, at the very least, the option of music as an additional therapy when undergoing procedures.”