NHS Expands Virtual Reality Solutions to Improve Patient Care
The healthcare industry continues to embrace XR technology, with innovations in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) transforming both medical staff training and patient care. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has been a key proponent of this technology, consistently integrating XR solutions to improve healthcare outcomes.
In line with this ongoing adoption of immersive technology, medical professionals at Friarage Hospital recently announced the results of a VR headset trial designed to alleviate patient discomfort. The initiative, which focused on reducing pain, breathlessness, and anxiety, involved the deployment of calming VR experiences as a non-pharmacological intervention.
The specialist palliative care team at Friarage Hospital introduced DR.VR Immersive Therapy Kits for patients receiving care at home in the Hambleton and Richmondshire regions. These VR headsets aim to create a relaxing and immersive experience for patients facing significant physical and emotional challenges.
The NHS is employing the DR.VR Immersive Therapy Kits through a two-year lease agreement, with support provided by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s fundraising division, Our Hospitals Charity. The deployment was further supported by Rescape Innovation Ltd., which helped secure the technology and headsets for the NHS.
The fundraising manager for Our Hospitals Charity expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fund the VR equipment, highlighting that patients have already begun benefiting from its implementation. The manager also emphasized the organization’s dedication to enhancing patient experiences through innovative healthcare solutions made possible by charitable donations.
Virtual reality headsets have shown real advantages for patients, especially those undergoing palliative care. Hayley Hadfield, a Clinical Nurse Specialist who was instrumental in launching the project at Friarage Hospital, revealed that she became interested in the solution after seeing its effectiveness during a trial period at a nearby hospital trust. Evidence and studies have shown that the VR kits are a successful non-pharmacological treatment for problems including pain, anxiety, and dyspnoea, Hadfield said.
Patients who are receiving therapy have also expressed satisfaction with the virtual reality experience. Lynda Coates, an NHS cancer patient who took part in the VR headgear experiment, said she thought the technology will help a lot of others with comparable health issues.
The referral process for this innovative treatment was facilitated by Cancer Care Coordinator Kimberley Almond. Almond highlighted the suitability of the VR kits for patients unable to travel, explaining that the technology not only offers an enjoyable at-home experience but also provides valuable support in symptom management.
The implementation of DR.VR Immersive Therapy Kits aligns with the NHS’ longstanding commitment to integrating XR technologies for improved healthcare delivery. This initiative follows a series of previous XR deployments across various NHS departments aimed at enhancing both medical training and patient care.
Last month, the NHS advanced its investment in XR with a government-backed VR training initiative valued at £4.3 million. The program is designed to reduce training costs, minimize travel expenses, and address skill shortages within the NHS workforce and the wider STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) sector.
This multi-million-pound virtual reality training program, spearheaded by Innovate UK, combines outreach initiatives aimed at students, healthcare professionals, and NHS employees with the development of practical skills. The programme is in line with the NHS’s overarching objective of increasing training effectiveness and guaranteeing that healthcare professionals possess the necessary abilities.
A co-director of Resilience at the University of Birmingham described the NHS’ VR efforts as pivotal, noting that the technology enables young people to safely acquire skills that would otherwise be difficult to obtain due to logistical or capacity constraints.
The NHS has also trialled additional VR tools such as the “Walking in the Shoes of” experience. This initiative offered employees insights into the experiences of colleagues from minority ethnic backgrounds, promoting empathy and fostering a more inclusive work environment.
As the NHS continues to expand its use of XR solutions, the implementation of DR.VR Immersive Therapy Kits reflects the organization’s dedication to enhancing patient comfort and supporting healthcare professionals with innovative, non-invasive solutions.
