The Trust is the first in the region to use state-of-the-art technology to live-stream surgery to train students and staff.
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust recently used the HoloLens technology to virtually display an orthopaedic procedure.
The surgery, taking place in the operating theatre at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, was beamed on to a large screen in the hospital’s education unit.
The Microsoft HoloLens technology headset was worn by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Nick Cooke during a knee replacement operation. It allows viewers to see and hear through the eyes of the person wearing it.
The device is in use thanks to funding from Health Education England North East and North Cumbria with support from their Enabling Effective Learning Environment Team.
“This really exciting and innovative project will help train staff of the present and the future – including students from universities.
Jean Angus, the Trust’s head of nursing education, project lead for the Trust
The future of the HoloLens in surgery
Jean continued: “We intend to regularly use this amazing technology in the future to do so much more. We intend to teach cohorts of students from nursing, paramedics, medicine, physiotherapy, dietetics, occupational therapy and pharmacy. This will also include qualified staff.
“The HoloLens enables students to view and hear experiences that they may not normally experience in practice. It helps to explore the future workforce implications for the Trust.
“Nick Cooke was pivotal to this project, his enthusiasm to teach students from all disciplines made this a huge success and we want to thank him for his fantastic support.”
