Eric Hitchcock, who had his bladder removed in 2009 due to bladder cancer and only has one kidney operating at nine per cent, has to have two tubes, that help drain urine into a bag, changed every six weeks. The procedure can be quite painful, uncomfortable and tiring but since using TVR he has found the whole experience completely different.
The 72-year-old, retired lorry driver from Rainham, said: “It’s brilliant. Really good. It takes my mind off of everything that’s happening and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
“To anyone who hasn’t used it before I’d say ‘you’ve got to give it a go’. Before I used to tense up because I knew what was coming. Now I don’t feel a thing because I’m concentrating on the scene in the headset and I’m relaxed. Quite often I don’t know when the consultant has started or finished the procedure. It’s definitely helped me a lot and I don’t feel achy afterwards like I used to either.”
Andrea Hattabi, Senior Sister for Interventional Radiology, was instrumental in bringing TVR to the hospital. She said: “Every IR procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic meaning the patient is awake. Using the headset helps block pain receptors and helps them to take their mind off of what is happening. You can see that it works because the machines show their vital signs stabilise during the procedure while wearing the headset.
“The feedback we’ve received from patients has been really positive and those who have used TVR say they will use it again and recommend it to others.
“We’re already talking to other teams across the hospital who are interested in using TVR in their service, so the hope for the future is to be able to offer TVR in other areas so even more patients, including children, can benefit.”
