VR distraction for children in hospitals: calm children during needles, scans and dental treatment
NXT/Care gives hospitals, regions and clinics a library of XR games and calming experiences that draw the child's attention away from the needle – while the child keeps seeing you, the room and their parents. No controllers, no installation, up and running in under a minute. Used by the Capital Region of Denmark.
- Used by the Capital Region of Denmark
- Built in Denmark
- Hosted in the EU
- No installation
- Pilot within 14 days
When the needle matters more than the treatment
For many children the needle is the worst part of a hospital visit. Procedural anxiety and needle fear can turn a short blood test into a long and difficult experience – for the child, the parents and the staff.
Distraction is one of the best-documented non-pharmacological methods for reducing children's pain and anxiety during needle procedures. NXT/Care makes distraction engaging enough that children actually immerse themselves – and simple enough to be used on a busy ward.
How NXT/Care is used
- Blood tests and venepuncture – the child plays with one hand while the other is free for the procedure.
- IV cannulation – attention moves away from the needle in the minutes that matter most.
- Scan preparation – videos that prepare the child for what will happen.
- Dental treatment – the game 'Dental defense' keeps the child busy removing virtual bacteria while you work.
- Waiting time – calming experiences such as the Pusteven breathing exercise.
Mixed reality instead of closed VR
Many paediatric wards already own VR headsets. Classic VR shuts the child inside another world – and for young children that can be frightening in itself when parents, the room and the staff suddenly disappear.
NXT/Care runs in mixed reality with passthrough: the child keeps seeing the real world, and the experience is layered on top of it. The child can keep eye contact with their parents, see and hear the staff, and uses their own hands in the game. That means reassurance, fewer headsets pulled off, and no motion sickness.
- Closed VR: the child only sees the virtual world – contact with the room disappears.
- NXT/Care (mixed reality): the child sees the room, you and their parents – and plays with their hands, no controllers.
- Already have headsets? Existing XR headsets with passthrough, such as Meta Quest 3, can often be used straight away.
Built for clinical workflow and hygiene
- One piece of equipment – no controllers to charge, clean or drop.
- Wiped with your usual surface disinfectant between patients.
- Opens like a website via a link – no installation and no IT project.
- Stop instantly: the child or clinician brings two palms together in front of the headset.
- A pilot can start within 14 days.
NXT/Care is not a medical device and does not replace clinical judgement or pain management. The experiences are designed around the well-documented effect of distraction.
Frequently asked questions
Which procedures is NXT/Care used for?
Typically blood tests, IV cannulation, scan preparation, dental treatment and waiting time. The child controls the game with one hand, so the other is free for the procedure.
Does the child still see staff and parents?
Yes, the whole time. Everything runs in passthrough, so the child sees the room, the staff and their parents while the experience is layered on top.
Do we need an IT project?
No. NXT/Care opens via a link on the XR headset – no installation, no local server, no integration.
Is NXT/Care available outside Denmark?
NXT/Care is built in Denmark and hosted in the EU. Contact us to discuss a pilot at your hospital or clinic.
Is NXT/Care a medical device?
No. NXT/Care is not a medical device and does not replace clinical judgement or pain management.
See it in practice – in 25 minutes
Book a free demo, or leave your number and we will call you back within 2 hours on weekdays (CET). A pilot can start within 14 days.