Scots company Care Reality will introduce a simulated learning platform using digital twins technology to care sector partners in Dumfries and Galloway.

Training in the sector will be transformed through the tech, which uses a real-time digital model of a care home. Plans are also in place to roll it out across Scotland in the future.

Dumfries-based Care Reality has developed a virtual reality and simulated learning platform to improve the quality and access of clinical skills and competence training for care professionals.

The firm is working with the Scotland 5G Centre and supported by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to showcase the idea to Scottish Care and NHS Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership.

The software designers, all with healthcare experience, will also listen to feedback to ensure the ‘digital twin’ includes interventions reflecting what users need to support them in their valuable work.

The digital twin approach allows educators to help learners test scenarios before trying them in real-life situations or environments. Care professionals can move around the home and practice interactions and procedures with avatars within the application.

Scenarios are dynamic and in real-time and will relate to what participants are learning, for example, educators who are training people on catheter changes can create a scenario for completion within the simulation.

As well as practice opportunities to build confidence, the platform also provides meeting zones for learners to share experiences. Care Reality’s innovative platform also creates the opportunity for hosting virtual training events.

With its large rural area and many remote towns, Dumfries and Galloway provide a potential marketplace for the new technology.

Ross Toomer, Chief Executive of Care Reality, said: “5G remote data-streaming will enable a new level of realism and high fidelity within a standalone VR headset regardless of the user’s physical location. This brings huge potential for educators who have found it expensive and logistically very difficult to provide training to large numbers of people over a large geographical area.

“Our new idea enables us to improve patient outcomes through better training and assessment via increased adoption of immersive technology.

“Digital twins are already commonplace in engineering and manufacturing, but the health sector is now beginning to see how beneficial it is to apply the same principles to the medical world.”

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Care Reality will work the team at Scotland 5G Centre at its hub in the Crichton Centre in Dumfries to accelerate the adoption of its immersive training platform.

The low latency, speed, and capacity for data available from 5G will allow the team to explore further developments and get the solution market ready.

Andrew Todman, Business Development Manager, S5G Connect Dumfries, said: “Data-driven technology has the ability to transform healthcare practices, and this digital twin model put forward by Care Reality is new to the sector.

“I am pleased to see it is being piloted in Dumfries and Galloway. We are working alongside the team to introduce them to the right people. We are also using our expertise at the testbed to help Care Reality better understand the potential for data streaming.

“We hope to help the team get its products market ready to ultimately improve health and social care delivery.”

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