3 December 2025

Young people and their families at our Children’s Emergency Department are enjoying calmer, more positive experiences thanks to an innovative virtual reality (VR) project which is now officially recognised on the national stage.  

Our VR initiative has been crowned the winner of the Innovation category at the 2025 Operational Public Private Partnerships (OPPP) Awards which celebrates outstanding partnership working and excellence across the PFI sector. The accolade highlights the project’s impact on patient wellbeing and its pioneering use of immersive technology in a busy emergency environment.  

The VR headset is helping transform what can often be a frightening and stressful time for children. By transporting young patients into soothing virtual worlds, from tranquil oceans to peaceful landscapes, the technology reduces anxiety, diverts attention from pain, and creates moments of joy, calm and confidence during challenging procedures.  

Children’s Emergency Department Play Specialist, Zoe Barnett, has witnessed the benefits every day: “The VR headset is great. We use it daily for procedures like blood tests, wound dressings, applying plaster and inserting cannulas and it’s so easy to set up that everyone can use it. It really helps to keep our patients calm.  

 “And it’s not just helping children. Parents also benefit as they can see what their child is experiencing and feel reassured. We wouldn’t be without it now.”  

Eleven-year-old Eva, who used the VR headset during her visit, had one simple verdict: “That was cool!”  

The success of the project has reached far beyond the Children’s Emergency Department. Zoe added: “Other departments have used it too. Recently, the paediatric team tried it with a child who’d already had three unsuccessful blood sugar attempts. With the VR headset, he sat all on his own, loved the experience and was so chuffed with himself.”  

The initiative has been made possible through Portsmouth Hospitals Charity, following generous funding from The Hospital Company. While the headsets are currently leased, their overwhelming success has prompted the Charity to begin exploring the purchase of permanent equipment to support even more young patients across the hospital.  

Kate Sandys, Head of Charity at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said: “We are so grateful to Zoe for bringing this wonderful idea to the Charity, and we were delighted to secure funding from The Hospital Company to help lease the equipment. Enhancing patient care is at the heart of what we do as a charity, and it is fantastic to see the positive difference this initiative is making, both within the Children’s Emergency Department and across other teams.”  

Celebrating national recognition  

Winning the OPPP Innovation Award is a significant milestone for the VR project. The recognition celebrates not only technological creativity but also the profound difference this work is making to children, young people and families when they need support the most. The award shines a spotlight on the power of partnership, compassion and forward-thinking ideas to improve patient care.