This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
VR to help children having surgery at Sheffield Children’s
The Little Journey smartphone app is allowing children awaiting surgery to explore Sheffield Children’s and prepare for their visit all from the comfort of their own home.
Created by Little Sparks, app has animated doctors, nurses and anaesthetists to show children around the hospital and explain what happens when you come to the hospital for surgery - beginning in the waiting room right through to the operating theatre.
The app is available free of charge and is aimed at children, young people and their families, hoping that the app can make the idea of coming to hospital more manageable by explaining things and making the spaces more familiar. Little Journey provides 360 degree views of all of the actual areas patients will visit at the hospital, with commentary tailored to the patient’s age.
Dr Nina Plant, consultant paediatric anaesthetist at Sheffield Children’s, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this app to patients of all ages. The run up to having surgery can be a stressful time– this wonderful app allows patients and families to understand what will happen when they come to the hospital and what it looks like before they come in. We hope that this will educate patients and families about the process, lower stress and anxiety when they come in for surgery. Overall, we hope it makes their experience here easier and more relaxed.”
Every year, Sheffield Children’s sees 10,000 patients for planned surgery. The app is already used in other trusts, and the Sheffield Children’s app is adapted just for the children and families it serves.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
