UK nurses are set to trial “virtual reality style” goggles to free up time with patients in home visits, transcribing appointments in real time and sharing footage for second opinions.
Nurses from the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust will trial the technology and be able to transcribe appointment notes directly to electronic records. This will allow nurses to cut down on administrative paperwork and free up more time for home visits.
The trust was awarded £400,000 by NHS England to test the technology as part of a wider innovation project, with plans to fund a further 16 pilot projects over the coming months. Local patients in the trial area will be informed about the project, with nurses asking for consent to allow the technology to be used and data to be recorded.
The software used in the glasses, A.Consult, was developed by Concept Health, a company which specialises in virtual reality, wearables and artificial intelligence for healthcare services.
Staff can also share footage live to get second opinions from hospital staff, avoiding the need for further appointments and hospital admission.
The goggles will also include thermal imaging capabilities, which can help to assess how wounds and injuries have healed.
Additionally, the goggles will help nurses to look up their next appointments, checking travel time based on live travel updates.
Dr Tim Ferris, director for transformation, NHS, commented: “Some of the best innovations come from local solutions and so through this project, NHS staff can test what works for them and what provides the best possible care for patients.
“These new smart glasses are the latest pioneering tech and really show us what the future of the NHS could look like – they are a win-win for staff and patients alike, freeing up time consuming admin for nurses, meaning more time for patient care”.
Photo credit: NHS/PA