The final of the first-ever CW+ Special Funding Call for VR/AR projects took place on Thursday 12 March, showcasing some of the most exciting and forward‑thinking ideas in immersive technology across the Trust. Â
Winner
This year’s winner is Shabnam Khan, Head Orthoptist and Scott Mills, Specialist Orthoptist, with their project ‘Ophthalmology by the bedside – VR in stroke’. Based at West Middlesex University Hospital, the project uses VR to assess vision problems in stroke patients at the bedside. This will allow patients to be seen more quickly and comfortably, reducing the need for transport to ophthalmology services at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Runner-up
The runner-up was Ma. Bernadette Ragonot, Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist and Catarina Rocha, Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist, with their project ‘VR: Assisted analgesia for enhancing post-operative recovery’. This project introduces VR headsets as a calming distraction for patients recovering from surgery, with the aim of reducing pain levels, decreasing reliance on opioid medication and helping patients feel more engaged in their recovery.  Â
Other finalists
In addition to the winner and runner-up, CW+ will continue to work with the remaining finalists to explore ways to support their projects:Â
Vineet Dinakaran, Undergraduate Clinical Teaching Fellow and Brent Bartholomew, Acute Medicine Consultant/Director of Clinical Studies – ‘Use of VR-simulated patients for recognition of acutely unwell patients’ – a mixed-reality training tool to project realistic, life-size holographic patients into a 3D space. This allows staff to practise assessing patients who are becoming seriously unwell and responding to changing symptoms. Conversational AI supports practice in communicating with patients.Â
Winnie Wechie, HIV Innovation Fellow and Ruth Byrne, Consultant HIV/GUM and Former HIV Service Director – ‘VR and AR for patients experiencing pain on injectables’ – using VR headsets during injectable HIV treatments to immerse patients in calming environments. This helps distract patients during the procedure and reduce the pain they experience.Â
Donald Masih, Phlebotomist and Maria Arbona, Phlebotomy and Cannulation Team Leader – ‘VR for needle-phobic patients in the Blood Room (Maternity and Phlebotomy)’ – using VR headsets during blood tests to help distract patients who are afraid of needles. The calming virtual environments help reduce anxiety and make the experience more comfortable, supporting patients to complete essential tests.Â
Presenting to a panel of experts
The five finalists presented their project ideas to a judging panel of leading experts comprising:Â
- Chris Chaney – Chief Executive, CW+Â
- Nicola Rose – Deputy Chief Nurse, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Nick Peres – Director of Digital Innovation and Transformation, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and National Advisor for XR Technologies, NHS England and UKRI Mindset
- Aglaia Gantzopoulou –Innovation Associate in VR/AR, CW+ Â
About the CW+ Special Funding Call
The Special Funding Call forms part of the larger CW+ Grants Programme, and offers Trust staff grants of up to £10,000 to support new service development, transformation initiatives and quality improvement projects. Â
Find out more about our CW Innovation programme
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