The children’s hospital Evelina London has started using virtual reality (VR) headsets to calm children down while they are undergoing stressful procedures.
The two VR headsets let children experience different 360 degree environments, like swimming underwater with tropical fish, visiting outer space and walking with dinosaurs – or they can just play games.
Ellie Jackson, 11, used a VR headset during an appointment before having an operation on her hip. Her mum Helen said: “Ellie hates needles and is really terrified of getting a blood test. She can get really anxious and upset and it can take a really long time to calm her.”
Before Ellie had a blood test, she was asked if she wanted to use the VR headset. Helen said: “As soon as she put it on, she was completely distracted. The nurse had to put a cannula in her hand and she didn’t even notice it going in. The difference it made was amazing.
“It made the whole experience so much easier. Not only did it help to calm Ellie, but it meant I was less worried about her as well.”
The headsets were paid for using donations made in response to the fundraiser by Tony Hudgell, the little boy who raised £1.5 million for Evelina London by walking more than ten kilometres on his prosthetic legs two years ago.
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