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King’s takes younger patients on a ‘Little Journey’

05 January 2023 - A new app, designed to help children overcome nerves before coming in for surgery, is due to be rolled out in January 2023

Paediatric patients at King’s College Hospital’s Denmark Hill site will be able to find out what it is like to have an anaesthetic from the comfort of their own home.

“Little Journey” gives children and their parents or carers the chance to prepare for surgery by taking them on a virtual tour of the hospital site. Available for use on a smartphone in 2D or using a 3D virtual reality headset, it gives younger patients the chance to meet doctor and nurse characters, see some of the equipment which will be used to care for them and find out more about what to expect on the day of their procedure.

The app has been specifically tailored to King’s College Hospital and uses photos of the Denmark Hill site to help children become familiar with the surroundings. Two different versions are available; one aimed at younger children and the second at those aged eight and above. Little Journey is the brainchild of Dr Chris Evans, an anaesthetic doctor, developed for his PhD at University College London.

Dr Asme Sheikh, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at King’s College Hospital, said: “We are really excited to be able to roll out this brilliant app. It will take children and their parents on a virtual journey through our ward and theatres, explain what will happen and talk about how they may feel.

The app has been piloted in several NHS hospitals so far, with great feedback from children and their carers. Coming into hospital can be overwhelming and we hope this app will help to make it a less frightening and more positive experience.”

Notes to editors

1. For further information contact:

Lizzie Mills, Corporate Communications, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Tel: 020 3299 3850; e-mail: [email protected]

2. King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching hospital Trusts. The Trust is recognised internationally for its work in liver disease and transplantation, neurosciences, cardiac, haemato-oncology, fetal medicine, stroke and major trauma.

Our hospitals include King’s College Hospital (Denmark Hill), the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), and Orpington Hospital – we also provide some services at Beckenham Beacon and Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup.

We provide care to 1.5 million patients in Southwark, Lambeth, Bromley, Bexley, Lewisham and elsewhere in south-east London and parts of Kent. In July, we launched our new strategy, Strong Roots, Global Reach, and our new vision to be BOLD.