'VR headsets are making Devon's healthcare more accessible'
Torbay and South Devon's NHS Trust say virtual appointments are increasingly becoming high tech
Devon's NHS is increasingly using virtual reality headsets to help reduce travel distances and improve patient care.
Most virtual reality masks are worn by clinicians who can then easily access things like previous test results and images whilst chatting to the patient in real-time.
Some patients, who might have a phobia of needles for example, are also invited to wear a VR headset during the procedure to help them relax.
Consultant and Podiatrist Richard Collings, at Paignton health and wellbeing centre, said: "We're starting to use technology as part of the NHS longer-term plan of how can we reach those people at home that can't easily get in and access healthcare.
"The future is technology and we have to embrace it and be part of the things that change -with things like artificial intelligence and virtual reality and how we can really use it
"We have a digital team within the trust that really help to promote and push our boundaries in being able to be able to take this to our patients and our communities and make patient care better."
Torbay and South Devon's 'Attend Anywhere platform' is now saving Musculoskeletal patients a combined £43,000 in fuel and stopping 691 tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere
A spokesperson for the health trust said: Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect many people and can affect your joints, bones and muscles meaning travelling for a consultation can be challenging, this is why our MSK team delivers around 17,000 Attend Anywhere appointments per year."
Around 80% of the trust's speech and language therapy appointments are now delivered online and most virtual nail assessments which saves the patient having to come in for a face-to-face assessment.
For more about Attend Anywhere appointments click here
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