A collaboration between Welsh critical care services and the University of Warwick is exploring how immersive technologies can bring specialist support closer to those on the frontline, with an aim to support decision making during remote care or patient transfers.
The 999 REACH (Remote Access for Enhanced, Adaptive, Collaborative Healthcare) project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, will test three different approaches for receiving specialist support remotely: telephone, video consultation via a tablet with 360-degree camera feed, and “full immersion” using a VR headset.
The research will look to compare how each technology impacts decision making, and develop training and policy frameworks to support the future adoption of remote decision making in video-based telemedicine.
David Rawlinson, EMRTS and Wales Air Ambulance, highlights that video technologies are becoming more and more a part of everyday life, and are already being adopted in clinical care, adding: “People tend to assume advanced technologies such as full immersion can only improve things, but we don’t know that this is the case. Building on the success of our interdisciplinary collaboration and combining frontline clinical expertise with world-leading research, this project will generate the evidence needed to guide the safe, effective and sustainable adoption of these technologies in our setting.”
Meryl Jenkins, service manager for the adult critical care transfer service Wales, spoke of delight at being a partner on the REACH project, stating: “The findings will help shape future service development, staff training and best practice, ultimately benefiting both our workforce and the patients we care for.”
Wider trend: Digital transformation in ambulance services
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has published a new strategy to 2031 with focuses on embracing innovation and taking advantage of opportunities from digital and data to better coordinate care, improve clinical decision support, and gain insight into demand. Moving forward, high-level deliverables cover the use of data to identify contributing factors to avoidable harms, the implementation of a digital safeguarding referral system, the development of an Early Warning System drawing on patterns in datasets to point to risks to patient safety, and improved tracking and monitoring of medicines using digital solutions for stock management and a controlled drug register.
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has set out its target operating model for virtual care, looking to build on existing success and introduce a unified digital approach to support “more predictable” waits, improved risk identification, and smoother patient flow. According to the trust, the new model will offer more consistency in clinical assessment for patients, expanded alternatives to ED conveyance, improved partnership working through more accurate referrals and shared records, and standardisation across tools, digital integration, and clinical escalation or advice points to support staff.
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reported on progress including work on implementing a new digital and data operating model and its plans for a 12 month automation programme focusing on low-level processes. Key leadership roles are now in place, the trust notes, ahead of a transition to the operating model designed to improve alignment between digital and operational teams and offer greater flexibility for changing organisational priorities. Elsewhere, LAS highlights a planned capital investment programme of £63.3 million for 2026/27 across fleet, estates, digital, and medical equipment, with £1.2 million in capital costs being incurred in April 2026, and the remainder to be delivered across the full financial year.
