Innovative VR project set to help patients at Katharine House Hospice

Day therapies patients at Katharine House Hospice have been fortunate enough to visit some exotic locations recently as part of a virtual reality (VR) project delivered by film maker Ben Malone of community interest company Project Vae.

Patients receiving support from the hospice’s Virtual Well Being Programme were invited to take part in a six week VR trial aiming to identify the benefits of virtual reality on mental health and wellbeing.

Germany’s Lake Eibsee and Zugspitze, Thailand’s beautiful Phuket, Big Budda Temple and fabulous Phi Phi Islands, Glencoe, the Peaks and the Albert Dock are some of the locations Mike and Euna in the holiday spirit!

Some participants were so excited about their virtual trip to Cornwall that they dressed in their summer holiday gear, with beach towels, sunglasses, hats and sun cream at the ready.

Senior Staff Nurse Melanie Mottram said: “It has been amazing to watch the patients arrive at the hospice excited and leave happy and looking forward to the next week. We have had lots of positive feedback, they have enjoyed the project so much, it cannot have come at a better time.”

Thanks go Dr Rashi Negi and Dr Saeed Farooq from Keele University & Midlands Partnership NHS Foundations Trust who have assisted with the research element of the trial and The National Lottery Community Fund for funding.