Virtual reality trial helps patients relax

Imagine being able to explore a tourist hotspot, or wander along an idyllic beach – without leaving your hospital bed.

That is exactly what NHS researchers are offering patients, as part of an innovative trial using virtual reality technology.

Sharon Turney, clinical trials unit co-ordinator at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, is running a pilot study offering virtual reality (VR) headsets to people who have had surgery, to see if it helps people relax and reduces pain.

The first patient to test the headset was Swale Borough and Faversham Town Councillor Kieran Golding, who also works as a Trade Union professional.

The 71-year-old grandfather, who lives in Faversham, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and had a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgeons were able to remove the tumour.

He said: “I firmly believe there is a strong connection between physical and psychological health, and one has an impact on the other.

“I trained as a therapeutic counsellor so I believe in holistic treatments and I was very interested in this research when I first heard about it.

“It was wonderful to be the first patient to try it and I hope my feedback will be useful and others can benefit from this in future.”

Kieran spent six nights in hospital and was able to use the VR headset twice a day, testing a range of different options including different locations and experiences before answering questions about his experiences.

He said: “I found the mindfulness-based ones were the most relaxing and the technology is fantastic. You can almost feel the water lapping at your feet on the beach.

“The geographical options were very interesting and took you out of yourself, as if you were actually visiting the area, but they didn’t have the same relaxing effect.

“I was lucky in that I didn’t experience much pain so I don’t know if the experience would be useful in managing that but it was definitely a good way to help me relax.”

There were also other unexpected benefits, including the visits of Sharon and her colleagues.

Kieran said: “I’m a great believer in talking therapies and seeing Sharon and Neil was lovely, especially as they bought the equipment to help me relax rather than wanting to take blood or check my blood pressure.

“I can’t fault the NHS at all, I’ve had excellent treatment all the way through and everyone has been so kind – and I’ve since been told the surgery was successful and they were able to remove all the cancer.

“I’m very grateful to everyone involved in looking after me.”

Sharon said: “I’m delighted to be running this pilot study and glad that Kieran had such a positive experience as our first participant.

“I have always been interested in the use of technology, particularly virtual reality, in a hospital setting and am very much looking forward to seeing the results from this initial pilot.

“The hope is that using the VR headset will help patients relax, reduce anxiety, and potentially reduce pain and support general recovery. A lot of research has been carried out using VR before surgery but not after so this is a very exciting project.

“I wouldn’t be able to set up and deliver the study without the support of my co-investigator Mr Joseph Sebastian, a consultant in general surgery, who is fully behind the concept and hopes it may evolve as a very good non-pharmacological method of pain relief.”

The headsets and other technology have been loaned to the Trust by Rescape Innovation Ltd.