Tag: #hospital

Mater Hospital Launches Ireland’s first AI Centre in a Clinical Setting to Transform Patient Care

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) has become the first hospital in Ireland to establish a Centre for AI and Digital Health. The new hub, which will be based at the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare, will utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to solve clinical problems across the hospital and, through research, develop AI-driven solutions to improve patient care and outcomes.

The Mater Hospital’s Centre for AI and Digital Health has been brought about through the collaboration of consultants, researchers and hospital leadership, and will make a tangible difference in patient care. From reducing emergency department waiting times, to assisting in diagnostics and automating time-consuming tasks, the Centre will place the Mater Hospital at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare innovation in Ireland.

“AI has the power to transform how we deliver healthcare,” said Erin Daly, Operations Manager for the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare. “At the Mater Hospital, we are developing AI solutions that directly improve clinical processes, whether it’s streamlining workflows, assisting in medical research, or helping doctors make faster, data-driven decisions.”

The Mater Hospital’s new hub for AI-driven medical advancements is overseeing the adoption of AI and engaging in research across multiple medical specialties, including radiology, oncology, cardiology, and ophthalmology.

“This centre offers a unique opportunity to bring together clinical and technical expertise to adopt and innovate with AI in Irish healthcare,” says Paul Banahan, Senior AI Research Fellow at the Mater Hospital.

Among some of its pioneering research projects are:

  • AI-driven automation which will help to identify suitable patients for clinical trials in oncology. This will significantly reduce the 16 hours per week it currently takes a nurse to manually scan these lists, speeding up patient access to clinical trials.

  • The reduction in the number of cardiac fluoroscopy video x-ray images, and subsequently the radiation exposure to both the patients and clinical staff, through real-time AI generated images.

  • The synthetic spinal imaging project, which has developed a generative AI that can convert lumbar spine CT images into synthetic MRI images for Cauda Equina Syndrome presentations, allowing for better and more robust out-of-hour or emergency care planning and treatment.

Speaking on the potential applications of AI in cardiology, Prof. Joe Galvin, Consultant Cardiologist at the Mater Hospital said, “AI has the potential to enhance the accuracy of ECG and radiology scan analysis, reducing the time that a patient has to wait for the results of their diagnosis and, if required, starting their treatment sooner.  If a patient suffers from cardiovascular disease, stroke or cardiac arrest, every minute counts. AI’s ability to increase accuracy and speed may be life-saving.”

While AI promises significant benefits, the Centre is equally focused on its responsible and ethical implementation. Robust data protection and management frameworks are being developed to ensure patient safety and privacy, as well compliance with best practices.

“AI in healthcare must be implemented with care, accountability, and a clear focus on improving patient outcomes,” said Josephine Ryan Leacy, CEO of the Mater Hospital. “The Mater Hospital’s Centre for AI and Digital Health is focused on ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in a way that prioritises patient safety, transparency and real clinical benefits.”

The Centre’s work is already proving invaluable, with AI solutions contributing to the reduction of emergency department waiting times and optimising hospital workflows. In the Mater’s Radiology department, AI is assisting in the rapid notification of suspected pathologies, like stroke and fractures, which are being correctly flagged by AI within 2-3 minutes of the scan being completed, with an accuracy rate of over 90%. Mater Hospital Consultant Radiologist Prof. Peter MacMahon said, “Our experiences have underscored the tangible benefits of AI, notably in expediting critical diagnoses and reducing turnaround times by rapidly flagging anomalies detected in scans.”

“Bringing AI into clinical practice is not just about innovation, it’s about making healthcare more efficient, effective, and accessible,” said Prof Brendan Kinsley, Clinical Director of the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare. “The Mater Hospital’s Centre for AI and Digital Health is laying the groundwork for a smarter, more responsive healthcare system, and I am incredibly proud to see this vision come to life.”

For more information visit the Centre for AI and Digital Health website here.

The Rotunda Hospital leads in improving patient care with digital health pioneer Isla Health

The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland’s oldest maternity hospital, has announced a collaboration with pioneering digital health company, Isla Health. The collaboration is set to transform patient care by delivering enhanced efficiencies for clinicians and patients and improving communication with diverse patient communities.
Isla is a powerful digital pathway platform for healthcare providers that supports patients throughout their care journey. The technology allows patients to securely and compliantly submit photos, videos, sound recordings, and forms from home. This data enables clinicians to detect complications, intervene faster, and improve patient outcomes to try and and avoid hospital presentations and admissions.  Isla is transforming wound management at Rotunda, benefiting teams like the Day Assessment Unit (DAU), neonatal care, and NICU.
It enables clinicians to capture videos of newborns with complications, tracking mobility and recovery. During ward rounds, Isla helps monitor wounds over time, supporting clinicians to make informed decisions. Patients can also upload wound images remotely for review, to determine whether a face-to-face appointment is necessary. Additionally, Isla securely stores and shares educational resources via text or email, reducing healthcare costs and improving accessibility for patients.
Looking ahead, Isla will launch new projects in waitlist validation and post-op monitoring with the aim of reducing surgical site infections and enhancing patient care.
Richard Drew, Consultant Microbiologist at The Rotunda Hospital said: ‘This technology will allow for improved monitoring of surgical wounds, and a much better continuity of care in that photos can be used to review wound healing over time. Isla will also allow the Rotunda staff to electronically provide information leaflets to mothers which is more convenient for staff and mothers, while also saving money on postal costs.”
Peter Hansell, Co-founder and CEO of Isla Health said: ‘As someone with a background in healthcare, I understand that technology should empower healthcare professionals to focus on what matters most, which is patient care. Isla’s technology is designed to create better communication and coordination between clinicians and their patients. It is being used extensively in the UK for a range of healthcare needs to reduce waiting lists, prevent re-admissions where possible, and give clinicians the information they need to make informed diagnoses and treatment decisions. We are excited to be working with the Rotunda Hospital, to create a more efficient and connected care system that truly prioritises the needs of both patients and medical professionals.”
Founded in 2019, Isla Health supports all clinical specialties and is proud to partner with over 30 healthcare providers across the UK, now expanding its impact to Europe and beyond.
Isla is fully compliant with EU governance and data storage and protection requirements for healthcare providers, ensuring that all data handling practices meet the stringent standards set out by GDPR and relevant regulations.

Kingsbridge ‘Techs the Halls’ this Christmas with new Robotic Surgery offering for the North West at Ballykelly Hospital

Kingsbridge Healthcare Group (KHG) is celebrating another “first” with Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West, in Ballykelly taking delivery of a state of the art MAKO Robotic-Arm Surgical System that will allow orthopaedic surgeons to perform joint replacements with even greater precision and accuracy.

As the only hospital in Northern Ireland offering such a pioneering device, this latest development reinforces KHG’s commitment to leading the way in providing new services, expertise, innovation, and technology to the NI Healthcare arena.

Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West General Manager, Anthony McKenna explains the positive impact this new assisted surgical system will have on both patients and surgeons.

“The MAKO Robotic-Arm Surgical System allows consultants to plot every step of the procedure in advance using CT imaging and 3D technology to plan and visualise the positioning of the implant before surgery, ensuring predictable and consistently successful outcomes.

“Software within the device creates an individualised pre-operation plan that facilitates less dissection, minimising trauma to soft tissue surrounding the joint resulting in a quicker recovery, less pain and shorter hospital stays for patients. The combination of the consultant’s expertise alongside the precision of technological assistance also means that replacement joints can not only feel more ‘natural’ but will also last longer.”

Specialised training has been completed in both Belfast and Luxembourg with a team of Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons led by Mr Graham Bailie, along with Mr Andrew James and Mr Danny McCaffrey, organised by Kingsbridge Training Academy in conjunction with leading medical technology company Stryker, manufacturers of the MAKO Robotic-Arm Surgical System.

Sarah Marks Chief Operating Officer at KHG said “We are very excited to begin robotic surgery and finish a 4 year journey to bring this service to people in NI. The delivery of the MAKO robot cements further our close relationship with Stryker who have been our long-standing partners in our orthopaedic growth journey.”

While scans and consultations can be arranged in Belfast as well as Ballykelly, all MAKO Robotic – Arm Assisted Surgery will be undertaken in Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West.

Self-Pay Orthopaedic patients can find out more about this new service and other orthopaedic treatments at a series of Public Information sessions being hosted by Kingsbridge Hospital Group in January at locations in Belfast, Ballymena, Craigavon, Omagh and Derry.

For further information and to register for free go to https://kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com/info-events/

Mater Hospital becomes the first hospital in Ireland to integrate Artificial Intelligence technology across Radiology to accelerate emergency care

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital has become the first hospital in Ireland to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its Radiology Department in order to accelerate emergency care. This has resulted in rapid notification of suspected pathologies, enhanced patient care and is freeing up valuable time for staff in the Department.

Since the introduction of the AI-assisted software this year, more than 15,600 patient scans have been analysed. Over 700 pathologies were correctly flagged by AI within 2-3 minutes of the scan being completed, with 500 intracranial haemorrhages and 200 pulmonary emboli being identified.

On out-patient scans, 50 pulmonary emboli were also flagged where the scans were being performed to assess other medical conditions. The overall accuracy of the software in real Irish clinical practice has been deemed to be highly sensitive and specific, with an accuracy rate of more than 90%.

The Mater Hospital has implemented four new technologies, including AI assistance on: CT pulmonary angiograms, incidental pulmonary embolism notification on CT scans, intracranial haemorrhage detection on CT head scans and cervical spine fracture detection on CT C-Spine scans.

The screening platform, made by Aidoc, operates on an ‘always-on’ basis, meaning it is constantly running in the background in order to analyse medical imaging data, flag urgent findings, and highlight cases that should be prioritised and brought to the immediate attention of consultants. The use of the software in Radiology at the Mater has significantly reduced report turnaround times, while also improving diagnostic accuracy and streamlining workflows.  The development of AI in healthcare clinical settings is being supported by Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare based at the Mater Hospital.

Mater Hospital Consultant Radiologist Professor Peter MacMahon said: “Our experiences have underscored the tangible benefits of AI, notably in expediting critical diagnoses and reducing turnaround times by rapidly flagging anomalies detected in scans. This allows Radiologists to prioritise the reading of these results and verify their accuracy before deciding upon a further course of action.”

The software underwent rigorous scrutiny, verification and testing at the Mater Hospital during a trial phase from April until August before the technology was fully deployed across the Radiology Department. The software is used to augment rather than replace the capabilities of radiologists at the hospital in emergency settings, ensuring that human scrutiny, verification and expertise is still at the centre of reading the scans.

Alan Sharp, CEO of the Mater Hospital, said: “The introduction of AI tools at the Mater’s Radiology Department demonstrates the strong emphasis we place on innovation and development. The integration of AI at the Mater serves to enhance patient outcomes and add efficiencies which ensure our patients receive the best standard of care we can possibly offer. The Mater strives to be a national leader in deploying cutting-edge technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence in healthcare.”

Mike Burns, Director of Sales for Aidoc in the UK and Ireland, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are proud to collaborate with The Mater Hospital, a healthcare institution known for its dedication to patient care and innovation. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to improving healthcare delivery and impacting patient outcomes in Ireland.”

Early next year, the Mater plans to trial further specialised AI tools, focusing on the analysis of bone and chest X-rays in the Emergency Department. These tools, designed to promptly flag pathologies and accelerate patient triage, are set to further enhance the Mater’s diagnostic capabilities and reduce waiting times for patients, while freeing up valuable time for frontline healthcare staff.

Beacon Hospital is the first in Ireland and UK to use pioneering new treatment for atrial fibrillation

Beacon Hospital announced completion of its first ablation case performed using the Medtronic Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System. The surgery was performed by Prof. Jonathan Lyne, Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist along with Beacon Hospital’s Cath Lab team.

As well as being the first hospital in Ireland and the UK to perform the pioneering treatment, Beacon Hospital is among the first five hospitals worldwide to carry out the procedure.

One in four people over the age of 50 are at risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common atrial arrhythmia (fast, abnormal heart rhythms). It occurs more frequently in those with underlying heart disease. Without early intervention, AF can progress and is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular admissions, heart failure hospitalisation, and mortality, along with a reduced quality of life.

The new technology maps and ablates (removes) atrial arrhythmias and provides real-time feedback through its intuitive mapping and navigation software.

Michael Cullen, CEO of Beacon Hospital said: “We are proud to provide this new treatment option to our patients and be the first in Ireland and the UK to do so. With world-leading technology, treatments and consultants, we’re committed to providing the very best care and outcomes for our cardiac patients.”

Prof. Jonathan Lyne, Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Beacon Hospital said: “The first procedures went very well, and our patients are now recovering. As atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia present in patients, this new procedure is a game changer for our team as it allows for more flexibility during an ablation procedure.”

Alice Griffin, Head of Cardiac Services at Beacon Hospital said: “It is an exciting time to be leading Beacon Hospital’s Cardiac Departments as we continue to invest and expand for our patients and medical teams. By providing our patients with the option of being treated with the Sphere-9 Catheter, we can potentially improve their outcomes, reduce the need to redo cases and offer more efficient procedures at our hospital. It is also great for our staff in terms of training and professional development”.

The Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System includes the Sphere-9™ Catheter and the Affera™ Prism-1 Mapping Software.

Studies to date show that treatment with the Sphere-9 Catheter provided 85% one-year freedom from recurrence of atrial arrhythmias. In all paroxysmal and persistent AF patients who underwent an ablation, 78% of both cohorts remained free from all atrial arrhythmias at the conclusion of the study. The study achieved its primary safety endpoint of 0.6%, including zero incidences of atrio-esophageal fistula, coronary spasm, pulmonary vein stenosis, and phrenic nerve injury.

Vhi launches new Dermatology service in partnership with AllView Healthcare & powered by technology & telehealth

Vhi today announced the launch of a new rapid access Dermatology service for the diagnosis and treatment of most dermatological conditions on an outpatient care basis.

Delivered in partnership with AllView Healthcare, Vhi’s Dermatology service provides end-to-end care for the diagnosis and treatment of medical dermatological conditions including common skin conditions such as acne, lesions, sun damage and melanoma – the most serious skin cancer.

With lengthy wait times for accessing dermatology services, Vhi’s new Dermatology service offers one of the fastest routes to medical dermatology treatment nationwide, with appointments available within ten days for Vhi members. Currently there are more 45,000 people awaiting a dermatology appointment in Ireland with 43% waiting for 6 months or more.[1]

By leveraging cutting-edge telehealth and digital technologies, Vhi Dermatology offers a new path to help meet the demand to treat serious skin conditions. Currently every year in Ireland, over 1,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer the most common cancer in Ireland. By 2045, it is projected that the number of cases of melanoma diagnosed among males will increase by 177% and among females will increase by 140%.[2]

New dermatology research commissioned by Vhi shows that 1 in 4 respondents are currently concerned about the impact of sun damage on their skin. Serious skin conditions also appear to be having a negative impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Close to half (47%) of those surveyed reported that they suffered stress and anxiety as a direct result of having a skin condition.

Dr Rupert Barry, Consultant Dermatologist and Clinical Lead for Vhi Dermatology Services said: “Over recent years, there has been a growing incidence of skin cancer and other skin conditions with an increasing number of patients requiring end-to-end care from diagnosis to surgical excision. This trend is only set to accelerate. That is resulting in considerable wait times for patients looking to access dermatology services in Ireland with 1 in 4 having to wait a year or more for treatment.

“The launch of the Vhi Dermatology service will help give patients access to the care they need, when they need it. By cutting lengthy waiting times, we can rapidly diagnose patients with skin cancer who may be currently waiting for an appointment with a dermatologist and treat patients with skin conditions as quickly as possible.

“Tackling long wait lists and providing timely access to care will be pivotal to ensure the long-term health and wellbeing of the population. By providing appointments to patients within days our service provides a faster and more effective approach to the management of skin conditions.”

Teledermatology appointments are available for Vhi members nationwide at AllView Healthcare Clinics and use specialist imaging equipment to record a series of high definition microscopic and macroscopic images of the skin complaint.

Following an initial appointment, AllView’s network of dermatology consultants deliver a diagnosis and treatment plan to manage conditions quickly and effectively. If surgery, biopsy or a face-to-face appointment is subsequently required, the AllView Healthcare GP will explain this to the patient and give them the fast access option of attending the Vhi Dermatology Clinic at Vhi 360 Health Centre, in Carrickmines, County Dublin.

Commenting on the opening of services, Eoin O’Reilly, CEO of AllView Healthcare said: “With demand growing for dermatology services across the country we’re proud to partner with Vhi to support comprehensive access for Vhi members to better dermatology care and treatment. The new service will provide an unparalleled patient experience and help provide peace of mind to patients.

“By joining forces, Vhi and AllView Healthcare can provide the fastest route to dermatology treatment in Ireland, delivering appointments, accurate diagnoses, and treatment plans to patients within days, rather than months.”

The Vhi Dermatology Service is one of a number of new services brought by Vhi to its members in recent times as it continues to innovate in the delivery of healthcare – specifically through the introduction of new facilities and services such as Vhi Women’s Health Clinic, Vhi Paediatric Clinic, Vhi Sports, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine Clinic in Vhi 360 Health Centres, digital and tele-health services, Vhi Hospital@Home, Vhi Health Screening, Vhi Midwife Support Service and Vhi’s National Clinical Call Centre.

Guinness Enterprise Centre launches Health@GEC Cluster in partnership with St. James’ Hospital

The Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), Ireland’s largest incubator in the heart of Dublin City and home to more than 160 innovative start-ups, today launched Health@GEC, a unique healthcare innovation cluster that connects and enables greater innovation within the sector by fostering collaboration between start-ups, medical practitioners, patients, and problem-solvers.

Following on from its partnership with St. James’ Hospital (SJH) – Ireland’s largest acute teaching hospital – the GEC hosted an event at the centre to launch and showcase some of the activity already underway and to seek new partners to join this successful ecosystem. Twenty healthcare companies are already engaged with the cluster, ranging from early-stage start-ups to established international organisations. 

Innovation projects currently in progress include those focused on specialised clinical research and training, with others involving technologies to support patients – both bedside and outside the hospital setting – alleviating capacity issues which remains a universal challenge faced by healthcare systems worldwide. 

The cluster has also attracted interest internationally from non-clinical partners who are eager to participate, as well as major global healthcare players. To date, this has included visits from the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, and the hosting of a visit from the Enterprise Ireland, Global Healthcare Forum earlier this year.

Beyond commercial engagements, the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Programme, a partnership between campus colleagues SJH and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), has been working with the GEC on a pilot programme whereby a multi-disciplinary team supports adolescents and young adults living with cancer in a non-clinical setting. It also engages with guest speakers and entrepreneurs – all keen to support these young people in an innovative model that may be expanded next year.

In preparation for the opening of the new children’s hospital at SJH campus in Dublin, CHI has also been using the GEC as a base for innovation workshops and upskilling healthcare workers to use Design Thinking to help solve complex challenges. CHI joins Health@GEC as an ecosystem partner, significantly increasing the potential for collaboration and open innovation for the group. The SJH/CHI campus, offering a full suite of ‘womb to tomb’ health services, will rank amongst the largest and most contemporary and comprehensive Academic Health Sciences Centres in Europe – employing in the region of 10,000 persons when fully operational.

Speaking at the event, Orla Veale, Programme Director for the Academic Health Science centre, said:

“St James’ recognises the value of open innovation to ensure it remains a leading healthcare organisation nationally and internationally, but also to continue to meet the needs of our patients into the future.”

Paul Anglim, Health Lead at GEC added: “Health@GEC promotes innovation in health by linking healthcare providers and institutions with companies and a supporting ecosystem of partners and investors. It is a hub from which innovators can access the network, locations, supports and people to bring their product to market successfully, thereby improving patient outcomes and new product adoption.”

Unique Website Helps Children and Parents Worldwide to Prepare for Hospitalization

Every year, millions of children around the world are admitted to hospital for having anaesthesia and surgery. Many of them experience preoperative anxiety which negatively affects both their hospital experience and medical outcome, as well as their future relationships with healthcare services from both a short-term and long-term point of view.

Unfortunately, hospital-related stress and anxiety among children and adolescents are often caused by a lack of preparation and understanding of the situation ahead. This despite the well-known fact that up to 60 percent of children show signs of severe anxiety when entering the operating room, Gunilla Lööf says, Nurse Anaesthetist and researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. With personal experiences of being forced to undergo medical procedures scared and unprepared as a child, Gunilla has spent much of her professional life preparing children and their parents for hospital stays.

In terms of impact, preoperative anxiety affects the child negatively in a short-term perspective with increased nervousness, pain and analgesic requirements during the hospital stay, but also from a long-term point of view with temper tantrums, sleeping difficulties, enuresis and food disorders, Gunilla says. Even though the frequency of negative behaviour is limited and decreases over time for most children, almost 10 percent of them still suffer a year after the hospitalization.

Unfortunately, lack of information, preparation and understanding cause significant stress and anxiety during hospitalization for both children and their parents. This despite strong evidence showing that making children and parents feel prepared is crucial in order to decrease distress and anxiety, to improve cooperation and participation, and to reduce negative consequences from both a short-term and long-term perspective.

The Anaesthesia Web
As a newly launched and internationally aimed website, the Anaesthesia Web offers children and parents help in order to prepare for hospital stays, anaesthesia and surgery. Today, children and adolescents have the unique experience of having been surrounded by digital media since birth. They use the Internet to play, search for information and learn new things. Furthermore, they declare the Internet as their primary source of information prior to contacts with healthcare and medical treatments. That is why we are here, Gunilla says. Research also shows that web-based preparation significantly increases knowledge and understanding in both children and parents compared to information offered as conventional brochure material.

The Anaesthesia Web is developed to be accessible to all children in terms of content, technology, pedagogy and language. The website offers children and adolescents information in an age-appropriate, interactive and playful way; simply in a way they can absorb and understand. There are videos, series, podcasts, blogs and FAQs. Visitors also get the opportunity to meet others with similar experiences. Perhaps you would like to join Doctor Safeweb or spy-scout Hilding Vilding? Or maybe visit the Clown Hospital, solve puzzles, do crafts, paint or play in your own operating room?

 

In addition to this, the website contains information for adults in 32 different languages. We know that fear and anxiety in children are greatly affected by the condition of their relatives. Therefore, it is incredibly important that family members feel well-informed and comfortable with the situation in order to be able to support their child in the best way possible, Gunilla emphasizes. All content on the Anaesthesia Web is based on clinical and scientific evidence and has been developed by a multidisciplinary team together with children of all ages, all with various experiences of healthcare. The Anaesthesia Web has open access, is free to link, and as all the content on the site is generally applicable it can be used irrespective of national or local procedures.

The purpose of web-based preparation programs is never to replace, but to support children’s information and preparation as well as their contact with healthcare providers, Gunilla says. More time will be available for individual interactions since the preparation has already started before the child has arrived at the hospital. After all, I know what it means to be afraid in hospital. There is no doubt that healthcare encounters have an impact on children and parents. The question is, what kind of impact do we want it to be?

At the Anaesthesia Web children, in all ages and cognitive levels, can learn more about the body, what it is like being in hospital and what happens before, during and after anaesthesia and surgery.

The Anaesthesia Web has been developed to be accessible to all children and young people in terms of content, technology, pedagogy and language.

All content for children is available in English and Swedish. Information for adults is available in 32 different languages.

The Anaesthesia Web has open access, is free to link, and can as all the content on the site is generally applicable, be used irrespective of local procedures.

The Anaesthesia Web contains medically quality assured information that has been developed by a multidisciplinary team together with children of various ages and different medical experiences and experienced specialists within anaesthesia and paediatrics from Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. All content is based on scientific and clinical evidence.

The Anaesthesia Web has been developed following a concept by Gunilla Lööf, nurse anaesthetist and medical doctor (PhD) at the Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

After having seen children being forced to undergo medical procedures, afraid and unprepared, Gunilla has spent many years working on development of web-based medical preparation programmes for children and young people. Gunilla defended her doctoral thesis at the Karolinska Institute in the field of web-based learning for children and young people when they come into contact with medical staff, and she is still pursuing research into paediatric anaesthesia, care and web-based learning.

The Anaesthesia Web is funded by The Swedish Inheritance Fund and The Foundation for the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital.