A Bewdley-based visual technology business has teamed up with a children's hospital in Liverpool to launch Europe's largest virtual hospital tour. 

VisualEyes has partnered with Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust to unveil the 360 degree hospital Matterport virtual tour which has been designed specifically for children and their families. 

It has been developed to help children and young people become more familiar with the hospital before appointments r procedures to help reduce anxiety. 

The virtual tour has been visited more than 7,000 times in the first 72 hours since its launch with an average engagement time of six minutes and 23 seconds. 

The wards on the virtual tour The wards on the virtual tour (Image: VisualEyes) The cutting-edge experience, funded by Alder Hey Children’s Charity and developed by VisualEyes, allows users to walk around and explore the hospital interactively from their mobile or tablet before they arrive.

Carl Timms, creative director of VisualEyes, said: "Launched the 360 degree virtual map is part of the hospital's mission to improve the experience for children and young people coming to the hospital. 

"We worked with Alder Hey's communications team to ensure this project met the aims of their Vision 2030 initiative. 

"Our aim is to make visiting Alder Hey as positive an experience as possible and to make learning about what happens at one of Europe's busiest and biggest children's hospitals both informative and fun." 

The Hospital has been scanned using the latest Matterport virtual technology and captured in 4K quality.

Phase one of the project features Alder Hey’s main hospital atrium, ward areas, outpatients, theatres, and Emergency Department, which have been captured over a staggering 188,594 square feet across five floors. 

Alder Hey atrium Alder Hey atrium (Image: VisualEyes) VisualEyes have integrated over 159 interactive hotspots that allows visitors discover what happens behind the scenes in different areas, as well as digital signage to help signpost areas and ensure people cannot get lost.

Users can click on labels, watch up to 74 videos explaining what happens when admitted for a procedure or arriving for an appointment, and even hear short sound effects that give insight into what’s happening in each area to help acclimatise visitors and help deal with anxieties. 

To take a walk through Europe’s largest hospital Matterport map visit https://digitaltwin.visual-eyes.co.uk/en/tour/alder-hey-atrium