Case Study: SyncVR – How VR is helping healthcare providers to reduce pain, anxiety and distress for patients

The healthcare challenge

Many patients experience significant anxiety, pain and distress before, during and after medical procedures. These challenges can lead to delays in treatment, increased pressure on clinical teams and poorer patient experiences.

Healthcare providers are increasingly looking for innovative, evidence-based approaches that support patient wellbeing while improving efficiency and outcomes. This aligns closely with NHS priorities around digital transformation, workforce productivity and delivering more personalised care.

For SyncVR Medical’s founder and CEO, Floris van der Breggen, the challenge became personal. After working in dementia care from a young age and later witnessing the impact of cancer treatment on his grandmother, he recognised the potential for immersive technology to improve patients’ experiences during difficult clinical moments.

Founded in 2019, SyncVR Medical set out with a clear mission: to make virtual and augmented reality a standard part of healthcare delivery. Along the way, the team has faced challenges including integrating new technology into complex clinical environments, building a robust evidence base and scaling adoption across different healthcare systems.

The solution

SyncVR Medical provides a comprehensive XR platform that brings together VR hardware, software, clinical applications and implementation support within a single managed solution.

The platform offers more than 50 applications covering:

• Pain and stress reduction

• Procedural distraction

• Mental health support

• Rehabilitation

• Neurological care

• Medical education and training

Patients access VR through healthcare providers, with sessions delivered or prescribed by trained healthcare professionals.

The platform has been designed for ease of adoption and can be set up in under two minutes, making it suitable for a wide range of healthcare settings, including smaller departments and organisations with varying levels of digital maturity.

Today, SyncVR Medical supports more than 100 clinical use cases and has trained over 5,000 healthcare professionals across Europe.

Impact and outcomes

Since launching in 2019, SyncVR Medical has grown into Europe’s largest XR healthcare platform, operating across six countries and working with more than 250 healthcare organisations.

In the UK, partnerships include:

• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

• Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

• Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital

• Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

• Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

• Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

• South Yorkshire Primary Care

Reducing anxiety during paediatric procedures

One of the platform’s most impactful applications has been the use of VR distraction therapy during challenging clinical procedures.

At Royal Preston Hospital, a 10-year-old autistic patient named Noah was experiencing severe anxiety during treatment for suspected meningitis. Using the SyncVR Relax and Distract Plus application, Noah became calm almost immediately, allowing clinicians to safely complete the procedure.

This example demonstrates how immersive VR can:

• Reduce patient distress and anxiety

• Improve cooperation during procedures

• Support smoother clinical workflows

• Help prevent delays and escalation of care

Supporting patients with Huntington’s disease

SyncVR has also shown encouraging results in supporting people living with complex neurological conditions.

Danielle, a patient with Huntington’s disease (chorea), used SyncVR as part of a relaxation intervention designed to reduce distress and provide temporary relief from involuntary movements.

Measured outcomes showed substantial improvements:

Both case studies use the SyncVR Relax and Distract Plus application, demonstrating the potential of immersive technology to improve emotional wellbeing, reduce anxiety and enhance patient experiences across different clinical settings.

Looking ahead

SyncVR Medical continues to expand across the UK, working with NHS trusts and healthcare organisations to embed XR into routine clinical practice.

Future priorities include:

• Expanding adoption across additional NHS trusts

• Further integrating VR into clinical pathways

• Building the evidence base for immersive healthcare interventions

• Supporting workforce development and training

• Increasing access to non-pharmacological therapies for underserved patient groups

The organisation’s long-term vision is to make immersive technology a standard component of healthcare delivery, helping improve outcomes for patients while reducing pressures on healthcare services.

Get involved

If you are exploring how immersive technology could support patients, staff or service transformation within your organisation, SyncVR Medical would welcome the opportunity to connect.

Visit syncvrmedical.com to learn more about the platform, view supporting evidence and discover how XR is being used across healthcare settings. You can also book a demonstration to see the technology in action and explore opportunities for partnership and implementation.