To lead the way in treating cancer, we’re virtually there already.

Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s not something we can afford to do when there are real patients involved. So how can we train our healthcare professionals of the future without putting anyone at risk?

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust could have the answer. Working in partnership with the University of Hull, they have developed a revolutionary way of training students in the administration of radiotherapy treatment. Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training, or VERT, provides trainee radiographers with a virtual reality simulation of radiotherapy treatment rooms and equipment, giving them the opportunity to practice clinical techniques and learn from their mistakes in an environment that is safe for them and their patients.

Whilst being true to life, VERT also provides students with additional benefits to practicing in real life, such as the ability to see through their virtual patients, ensuring that radiation beams are accurately placed to irradiate tumours. With the use of radiotherapy expected to rise by 91% by 2016, the program is also taking the strain off radiotherapy departments by increasing their training capacity and reducing costs and the training demand on real life treatment rooms.

Professor Roger Phillips, from the Hull Immersive Virtual Environment at the University of Hull, is one of VERT’s creators: “I’m thrilled that VERT has radically changed national policy of how radiotherapy students and clinical staff will be taught and trained in England. Patients will now reap the benefits of more trained radiotherapy staff, improved efficiency of existing radiotherapy equipment and being used themselves much less for training.”

VERT, which was awarded the BT Flagship Award for Innovation at the 2008 BCS Industry Awards, has the potential to revolutionise the way healthcare professionals are trained.