The Son Llàtzer University Hospital has introduced virtual reality headsets in its Pediatric Emergency Department to help reduce fear, anxiety, and pain in children during certain medical procedures or tests.

This initiative is part of the public healthcare system’s commitment to providing more humane and compassionate care, especially for its youngest and most vulnerable patients. The headsets immerse children in relaxing virtual environments, filled with peaceful landscapes, interactive games, and animated adventures, allowing them to divert their attention away from the hospital surroundings and from potentially stressful or painful interventions.

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Son Llàtzer Hospital introduces virtual reality headsets in pediatric emergency care to ease fear and anxiety in children

They are primarily used during procedures such as wound care, blood extractions, IV insertions, and diagnostic tests — moments that often cause discomfort or fear. The goal is to make the emergency room experience less intimidating and more positive for children and their families.

According to the hospital’s pediatric team, the early results have been highly encouraging: “Children feel calmer, cooperate better, and in many cases are unaware that a medical procedure is taking place. It’s a tool that helps both clinically and emotionally.”

The acquisition of these devices was made possible through the participatory budget of the Health Service’s Humanization Commission, which prioritized the project as part of its plan to improve patient care quality with a more empathetic and person-centered approach.