A ‘virtual reality dome’ that allows people to experience the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre that will be built at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP), has been installed at the Trust’s Derriford Hospital site in Plymouth.
The Centre is part of the New Hospital Programme. Patients, staff, and community groups, are taking the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new facilities. University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust says the new centre will improve Derriford Hospital’s capacity to treat patients from across Devon and Cornwall in a timely way,’ in the most up-to-date healthcare environment’.
The new building is brought to life as a film of the space is projected across the dome. During a virtual reality ‘walk through’, visitors can experience the flow of the building, and staff can see what their future workspace will look like. Future Hospitals Programme lead at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Nicola Collas, said: “We’ve had a great response to the dome experience, with people excited about the prospect of working in a state-of-the art, purpose-built facility. Bringing the project to life in this way has really allowed everyone to see with their own eyes how this project will make a huge difference for patients, staff, and the community”. UHP Future Hospital director, Stuart Windsor added: “We know there are increasing numbers of patients who need urgent and emergency care, so to see this new facility – and the increased space it will offer for people who need it most – is brilliant.
“It’s been a key for us to invite our staff, stakeholders, and patient groups, along to experience this, and we’re really excited about the plans for transforming care for patients through investment in our clinical services, as well as through digital transformation.”
The new building – a New Hospital Programme scheme – will offer facilities for same day emergency care for people who don’t need to be admitted to hospital. The Trust says it also includes ‘state-of-the-art’ diagnostic equipment to support faster diagnosis, and interventional radiology theatres and surgical theatres to treat patients more quickly.
