VR Giving Hospice Patients Immersive ‚Day Out‘

Myton project aids relaxation and distracts from pain

Patients at The Myton Hospices now have the chance to explore the great outdoors… in the comfort of their bed or chair.

Virtual reality technology is giving patients the opportunity to discover parks, beaches and even a stately home thanks to a partnership with the LOROS Hospice in Leicester.

The project, the first in Warwickshire in the West Midlands, offers an immersive experience for patients who are often coping with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.

People who can get out of breath easily, are not steady on foot or cannot navigate uneven terrain now have the chance to have a ‘day out’.

Patients who attend Myton’s three day hospices, or are being cared for on its two inpatient units, will be able to access this new service.

The virtual reality headsets mean that anyone who comes to Myton, who wants to, can take advantage of the three beautiful settings and three immersive nature documentaries.

‚It was so real‘

Currently, patients can watch films of Bradgate Park in Leicester, a beach scene filmed at the Gower Peninsular in Wales and the spectacular 16th century stately home of Chatsworth House in the Peak District.

The wildlife documentaries include Cairngorms, Beavers and Bagpipes and Bluebell Forest.

One patient said: “I felt as if I was there, at the seaside again, which I never thought I’d be.

“It was so real; I lifted my feet up when the water came in.”

Ruth Freeman, CEO at The Myton Hospices, said: “Myton puts patients at the centre of every service we provide and transporting them virtually to places they may not be able to visit in person again gives them a really positive experience.

“This is not just because of the amazing places they may see but also because research into the benefits of virtual reality has found it aids relaxation and distracts from pain and difficult situations.

Brain tricks

“Videos for the headsets are specially commissioned and within 20 seconds of use the brain tricks you into thinking you are in the setting of the film. This is a new initiative for Myton and one we are delighted to be able to offer to our patients.”