Trust shortlisted for triple National Learning Disability and Autism Awards
Showcasing how Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has been leading the way and helping make improvements for patients and visitors with learning disabilities, it has now been shortlisted for three awards in the prestigious National Learning Disability and Autism Awards.
The oVRcome Project Team, made up of colleagues from Learning Disability, Innovation and Patient Experience teams at the Trust, has been selected as a finalist in the Great Autism Practice category.
And there were additional nominations for Claire Turner, Learning Disability, Autism and Dementia Service Lead, who has been shortlisted for the Senior Manager Award, and Paula Pearl, Learning Disability Liaison Nurse at Southend Hospital, who has been shortlisted for the Learning Disability Nurse Award.
The oVRcome virtual reality exposure therapy app, is a tool that has been developed to help patients with learning disabilities or autism familiarise themselves with hospital environments, and what to expect from their hospital care.
Claire Turner, said: “Coping with treatments and visits to highly stimulating hospital environments can be very challenging or intolerable for people with learning disabilities or autism, the oVRcome app has helped patients with learning disabilities and/or autism who are struggling with anxiety and needle phobia to overcome them by familiarising themselves with certain environments, at their own pace and in the comfort of a safe space.”
Early results have already been encouraging as 73% of 31 people with a learning disability or autism who took part in a four-week pilot earlier this year said they thought the app was useful, and those feeling nervous about attending hospital reduced by almost half, from 48% to 28%, after taking part.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the end of June.