UK equips nurses with smart goggles to see more patients

A nurse prepares medicine for patients in a hospital. The trial aims to see if the goggles will help free up time for more clinical tasks for patients, such as checking blood pressure and dressing wounds. — AFP

Nurses in some parts of England will trial smart goggles on visits to patients’ home as the struggling UK National Health Service turns to digital gadgets to try and improve services.

As long as individual patients consent, the virtual reality headsets will help nurses transcribe medical records, automate administrative work, and share live footage for consults with hospital colleagues. The goggles also come equipped with thermal imaging technology for examining wounds and injuries. The trial will be carried out in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole, England, the NHS said in a statement Saturday.