VR Enhances Air Ambulance Surgical Training

Thames Valley Air Ambulance has expanded its use of virtual reality to train critical care teams in rare but vital surgical procedures. Supported by funding from the Peter Sowerby Foundation, the organization now offers immersive training for interventions described as “high acuity, low occurrence” (HALO). These include intubation, thoracostomy, and thoracotomy—complex procedures that must be performed under extreme pressure with high precision.

The air ambulance service began using VR in 2022 for aircraft emergency training. With this new phase, paramedics and doctors can now rehearse high-stakes surgeries in a controlled, virtual environment. According to Consultant Paramedic Mark Hodkinson, the VR modules are integrated with other simulation methods, including manikin-based scenarios and environmental distractions, forming a comprehensive, blended training approach.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance is among the first helicopter emergency services to adopt VR for advanced surgical skills training.