VR improves patient experience at Leeds Children’s Hospital

Virtual reality (VR) technology is being used at Leeds Children’s Hospital to help reduce anxiety for young patients so they can undergo medical procedures without general anaesthetic.

The hospital started trialling VR headsets for distraction therapy in 2021 and steadily increased their usage following successful evaluations.

In 2025, the hospital’s Play Specialist Team received £500,000 funding from Leeds Hospitals Charity, which has allowed it to use the headsets seven days a week to support complex procedures ranging from blood tests to lumbar punctures.

From initially supporting just four hospital areas, the VR service now reaches patients across 11 different departments, including oncology, dialysis, radiology and neurology.

Lucy Dickinson, play specialist and VR lead at Leeds Children’s Hospital, said: “VR is mainly used as a distraction tool for lots of different procedures.

“It can be a blood test, a cannula, or more invasive procedures such as PICC lines or lumbar punctures.

“It enhances the hospital experience while ensuring successful procedures.”

In a recent 20-month evaluation period, the service supported more than 600 children, growing from 25 patients monthly to consistently helping 40-50 patients each month, with a success rate of 75-85%.

The hospital has four VR headsets with a fifth on the way, funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, Starlight Charity and private family donations.

The DR.VR software from Welsh biotechnology company Rescape offers three sections: relax, play, and explore, allowing children to immerse in calming environments, education content, or engaging games while remaining still for the procedure.

The Play Specialist Team has also created custom content for the VR headsets, including six preparation videos that familiarise children with hospital environments like MRI rooms, X-ray departments, and radiotherapy before their visits.

These videos feature play specialists guiding children through what to expect during their visit, helping reduce anxiety about unfamiliar hospital spaces.

The hospital has also introduced a digital ‘VIP Pass’ system that flags patients with procedure-related anxiety in medical records, ensuring all clinicians follow personalised play-led treatment plans.

Laura Whelan, head of nursing for children’s nursing at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “You can’t really overstate the difference this makes.

“We have seen children who were previously terrified of needles have procedures without flinching during one of Lucy’s sessions.

“What were once extremely distressing experiences for some patients have been transformed into manageable moments for both children and their families.”

Meanwhile, St George’s University of London has led work to improve student mental health by using sessions in virtual reality to reduce stress and anxiety.

The VR content, which was developed by Phase Space Ltd working with St George’s, University of London, uses proven hypnosis-based stress management techniques, including breathing and visualisation, reimagined for VR.