Virtual hospital visits at Alder Hey Children's Hospital
See how Medisites360 helped Alder Hey alleviate patient anxiety with immersive online hospital visits.
Alder Hey Children's Hospital: a case study
In 2023, Alder Hey Children's Hospital approached Medisites360 with an ambitious vision: to alleviate anxiety among its young patients using our cutting-edge 3D capture technology.
The result would be the largest project of its kind in Europe. Learn how we made it happen.
Take the tour
'My teenage daughter has two rare genetic conditions and has regular outpatient visits at Alder Hey to help manage them. She has found the virtual tour invaluable in making her aware of the specifics of what she will see when she gets there but also in making her more familiar with the hospital as whole. She’s also used it to show friends and family ‘her’ hospital which is certainly spreading the word about Alder Hey!"
Parent of an Alder Hey Patient
Stats for Alder Hey virtual tour from 1st Oct 2024 to 5th March 2025
A&E
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
04min 27 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Atrium
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
02min 04 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Outpatients
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
03min 57 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Radiology
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
03min 36 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Rainbow Centre
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
02min 21 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Surgical Admissions
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
03min 16 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Surgical Daycase
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
03min 34 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Wards
Total online visits to the dept
unique users
05min 40 sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
Total
Total online visits to the dept
Unique users
3min 44sec
Average time spent in the virtual dept
The vision
An ambitious approach to alleviating patient anxiety.
Alder Hey Children's Hospital has provided lifesaving care to children and young people in Liverpool for more than 120 years. Today, it's among the largest and busiest children's hospitals in Europe.
The hospital has long fostered a reputation for innovation. In 1944, it made history when one of its patients became the first child to be treated with penicillin. And in 1953, the hospital established the first neonatal surgical intensive care unit in the world.
This pioneering spirit was on full display when, in the autumn of 2023, the hospital approached Medisites360 with a vision. Could our 3D capture technology help alleviate anxiety for the thousands of young patients who visit each year?
It was a simple question, yet it would kickstart one of the hospital's most ambitious projects to date.
The solution
Virtual hospital visits that put patients in control.
Hospitals can be daunting. For young people – and especially those with sensory processing issues – the stress associated with these noisy, busy and unfamiliar places can be overwhelming.
Experts recognise that alleviating patient anxiety rests on good communication. Healthcare providers should engage transparently, earnestly and accessibly – and they should do their best to let patients know exactly what to expect.
Our solution would go much further than this. We proposed an online hospital visit, where patients could experience Alder Hey in their own time and on their own terms. Using simple node-by-node navigation, patients could explore a lifelike 360° digital twin of Alder Hey, stopping to watch helpful videos from staff along the way.
The goal
A new standard for patient-centred communication.
For Alder Hey's young patients, our virtual hospital visits would provide an intuitive and immersive way to find their footing and prepare for their visit. They would feel empowered to explore without the weight of expectation and the risk of sensory overload. They would come away informed, engaged and better equipped to handle the reality of their upcoming care.
And for the hospital, it would be a win-win. As well as alleviating patient anxiety, it would save valuable financial resources and free up staff to deliver the exceptional care that patients relied on.
How we made it happen
Our solution would become the largest 3D capture project of its kind in Europe. But it wasn't going to be easy.
To bring Alder Hey's vision to life, we would have to capture more than 188,500 square feet of the hospital using cutting-edge 4K 3D cameras.
It was a monumental task – but we knew that, with careful planning, we could make it a reality. And so we got to work, plotting a step-by-step roadmap to completion.
One of the key challenges was capturing a busy hospital without compromising patient privacy or disrupting staff. And so we worked in the depths of winter, carefully scheduling departments to be captured each weekend in January and February.
And that was only half the job. After the capture was completed, we worked closely with the hospital's communication team to create more than 70 interactive videos. These were embedded throughout the tour, allowing patients to hear helpful insights from staff and see them at work.
We tackled the project in bite-sized chunks, solving problems as they arose and giving staff room to carry out their vital work. This steady approach paid off. The online hospital visit went live in October 2024, just [X MONTHS] after our initial contact with Alder Hey.
Key takeaways
185,000+ sq ft captured
Including the hospital's main atrium, ward areas, theatres and outpatients and emergency departments.
159 interactive hotspots
Our interactive hotspot technology let Alder Hey include dozens of helpful explainers and behind-the-scenes media.
70+ videos
A friendly face can make all the difference. Now patients can watch staff explain what to expect with 70+ embedded videos.
Any device, any location
Accessibility comes built-in. Patients can go on virtual hospital visits from any device and any location in the world.
Give your patients the same treatment
Get in touch with our UK experts to learn how we can help you make lives better.
Here at Medisites360, we're ready to bring our innovative 3D capture technology to healthcare providers around the world.
Want to discuss how we can help your hospital thrive? Don't hesitate to get in touch. Our experts will create a bespoke solution that's laser-focused on your goals and the unique needs of your patients.
- Improve the patient experience
- Unlock cost savings and time gains
- Reduce DNAs (Did Not Attends)
- Accelerate onboarding for new staff