VR Headsets for Art, Recovery and Engagement at Northgate Hospital

The Recovery and Engagement team is for service users at Northgate Park, where individuals can try out different activities and have fun in a relaxed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The team offer daily sessions which are aimed at improving your skills or learning new ones in a safe, supportive and caring environment. These are based around the curriculum areas followed in adult education – English, maths, IT, employability and personal and social development.

With the VR headsets, the team have been able to put together an educational and fun experience for service users, using virtual reality. An example of exploring a unique experience through the headsets could be a walkthrough of Hadrian’s Wall or The Louvre art Gallery in Paris. One member of the team stated the possibilities are countless!

As the age of technology perpetually develops and moves on, we see this as innovative by bringing the outside world to the inside via technology. – Eric Rothwell, Artist.

The technology does not just provide educational benefits, but it also can be used for fitness and healthy living as the VR headsets provide virtual fitness experiences as well as hand-eye coordination playing through musical and motivational apps.

The VR headsets have proven to be very popular and have created positive relationships amongst peers and staff.

Using an app called Wander, where you are able to visit anywhere in the world – a patient using the headset was able to choose his hometown and loved looking around to reminisce and look at changes since he has been away from his hometown.

Feedback from patients:

“Using the VR headset has allowed me to go home”.

“SHINE has helped me interact and have fun with staff”.

“It brings exciting technology to us and the idea of virtually travelling the world is fantastic”.