Episode 43: Launching a virtual hospital tour

In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, Steve Bland is joined by Jay Scott-Nicholls, the Creative Director at Circus, and Dr Adam P Januszewski PhD MRCP, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Quality and Safety Lead at Barts Cancer Centre to explore how digital innovation is transforming the experience of cancer care across north east London, focusing on the launch of a new virtual hospital tour at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. 

Designed to help patients prepare for cancer treatment, the virtual tour guides them through how to get to their appointment and what to expect when they arrive, reducing uncertainty and anxiety at a critical moment in their care journey.

Recorded at the launch event at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the episode highlights how technology can improve not only the quality of care but also equity of access. By providing clear, visual, and accessible information, the virtual tour helps patients who may be unfamiliar with hospital settings, travelling from further afield, living with anxiety, or facing language or communication barriers. Importantly, it also aims to improve appointment attendance, ensuring patients are supported to receive timely care.

The discussion places the virtual tour within a broader programme of digital innovation across the North East London Cancer Alliance, including the use of AI to speed up chest X-ray reporting, animated videos to explain tests and procedures in simple terms, and chatbots that offer round-the-clock answers to patient questions. 

Together, these tools demonstrate how technology can support patients before, during, and after diagnosis and treatment.

Patients attending St Bartholomew’s Hospital are encouraged to access the virtual tour using the link or QR code in their appointment letter to help them feel more prepared and confident ahead of their visit.

Read more about the tour: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/news/launch-new-virtual-hospital-tour

For more information about innovation in cancer diagnosis and treatment in north east London, watch this short video: https://youtu.be/urpQ6-AnExc

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Apple: https://bit.ly/4aqXpsa

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YouTube: https://bit.ly/4txd3e9

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