Childrens Hospital Familiarisation Tour

Hospitals can be scary places. Especially for children. 

That’s why London’s Evelina Children’s Hospital specialises in helping young people access healthcare in an environment that’s class-leading as well as non-threatening. To reassure patients before they visit and allow them to familiarise themselves with the facilities, the hospital asked us to create a virtual tour that’s as child-centred and high-quality as their own services.  

This kind of immersive virtual tour can play a vital role in helping children and their families prepare for an upcoming visit. Hospitals can often be intimidating and anxiety-inducing environments, especially for young patients who may not know what to expect. A virtual tour serves as a powerful tool to bridge this gap, making the experience more accessible, less stressful, and even fun. 

We started by mapping out the key locations which are encountered by the most patients, and capturing them as high-resolution 360 photographs to show the spaces at their brightest and best. Then designed a user interface which would be appealing to young users and intuitive to explore, as well as being aligned with the hospital’s distinctive brand. 

The tour has been hosted and published and feedback from staff and patients alike has been overwhelmingly positive. We hear that the hospital is looking to get other areas shot too, to expand the tour’s reach. We can’t wait!

Advantages of a virtual tour for patient familiarisation:

The unfamiliar environment of a hospital, with its medical equipment, sounds, and smells, can be overwhelming for children. A virtual tour allows them to explore the hospital from the safety and comfort of their home, which can significantly reduce fear and anxiety. By familiarising themselves with the layout, the wards, waiting areas, and environments they may encounter, children can mentally prepare for their visit. This is especially helpful for children with anxiety disorders or those who are on the autism spectrum, as it gives them time to acclimatise to new surroundings at their own pace.

The immersive virtual tour is not only beneficial for children but also for their parents or caregivers. Adults accompanying their child may experience anxiety about the visit, and a virtual tour can help ease their concerns by providing them with a clear understanding of what to expect. This enables them to better support their child emotionally, as they can answer questions and provide reassurance based on what they have seen during the tour. The familiarity gained from the virtual experience can help parents feel more in control and empowered during the hospital visit, which in turn helps the child feel more secure.

Our virtual tour is designed to be visually engaging, featuring bright colours, simple navigation and bold buttons which can make the hospital itself seem less intimidating. And by being published online, it’s accessible to everyone, regardless of location. Families who live far from the hospital can explore the facility without having to make a preliminary visit, saving time and resources. This is particularly beneficial for children with mobility challenges or those who may find travel exhausting or distressing. Moreover, since the virtual tour is available online, families can revisit it as many times as they need to before the appointment, reinforcing familiarity and comfort with the hospital setting.

By giving children a chance to virtually visit the hospital, the actual transition from home to the hospital becomes much smoother. Children who have explored the hospital online will likely feel less disoriented when they arrive in person. They may recognise key areas such as the entrance, waiting rooms, or playrooms, which can help them feel grounded and less overwhelmed. It also prepares them emotionally, allowing them to ask questions and voice concerns beforehand rather than dealing with everything in real-time during their hospital visit.

In summary, this immersive virtual tour of Evelina Children’s Hospital is a great example of the numerous advantages for young patients and their families of this kind of content. By reducing fear, increasing familiarity with medical procedures, engaging curiosity, and providing a sense of control, it can help make the hospital experience less daunting and more manageable. In the long run, such innovative tools can enhance patient care by promoting emotional preparedness and fostering a positive relationship between children and healthcare environments.