Virtual Reality Equipment (palliative care use)

Cambridge University Hospital Palliative Care Department currently has the use of Rescape Virtual Reality equipment to offer as an option to help patients manage their pain and anxiety.

Evidence and literature supports Virtual Reality as being helpful and of benefit for patients experiencing pain and anxiety in a variety of settings. Rescape Virtual Reality offers a selection of 360-degree, high resolution escape experiences of tranquil nature scenes or meditative spaces viewed via a headset. This provides a totally immersive alternative world that can help influence attention, emotional state thus potentially reducing pain and anxiety.

We would like to offer you the opportunity to use this equipment if you are experiencing pain or anxiety and wish to try it. This is voluntary and you are able to change your mind at any point. The equipment and choice of films and images will be discussed and explained prior to use.

The Rescape equipment has been designed for hospital use and is considered to be safe from an infection control point of view. Equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between each patient according to hospital policy and procedure.

We do not anticipate any risk or adverse reaction from use of the equipment but if you feel uncomfortable or do not enjoy the experience it can be stopped immediately. We will remain with you for the duration of your session.

If you choose to use this equipment, we will be interested to hear your thoughts on the experience and whether you feel that it can help other patients in hospital.

We do not recommend use of the equipment if you suffer from any of the following:

• Poorly controlled nausea
• Confusion
• Limited head/neck mobility
• Open facial/head wounds
• Inner ear infection
• Epileptic symptoms
• Pre-existing binocular vision abnormalities that would make equipment use less effective
• Severely impaired vision that is not corrected