A digital tour designed to support autistic patients and those with additional needs has been introduced at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The National Autistic Society reports that around half of autistic people experience high levels of anxiety related to hospital visits, with 51% finding waiting rooms particularly distressing.

As the first district general hospital in Cheshire and Merseyside to introduce the tour, the initiative was developed in response to direct feedback from individuals with additional needs who expressed concerns about navigating hospital settings.

Seeking to ease these concerns, the tour offers patients and carers the opportunity to explore the hospital environment in advance.

Unlike traditional videos, it is fully interactive, featuring 360° navigation, clickable hotspots and access to key hospital areas.

Designed by Bartex Design, the tool helps patients and families familiarise themselves with the environment, reducing anxiety and making visits feel more manageable.

Mark Bartram, founder of Bartex Design, said: "When my son was younger, every hospital visit was a battle.

"The unknown was terrifying for him, the corridors, the waiting rooms, the clinical spaces he couldn't picture. His anxiety would spiral before we even left the house.

"I remember thinking, if only he could see what was coming, it might take away some of that fear. That's why this project matters so much to me.

"It's not just a virtual tour; it's a lifeline for families like ours."

Funded by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, this initiative is a key part of the Trust's Additional Needs Strategy - focused on making healthcare more inclusive for autistic individuals, as well as those living with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and physical disabilities.

Jill Cooper, associate director of nursing at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, added: "We are deeply committed to enhancing patient experience.

"Tools like this show that we're not standing still. We're listening, learning and making meaningful changes that truly benefit our patients and their families."

While some hospitals offer basic video guides, fully interactive tours like this are still uncommon across the NHS.

The Countess of Chester Hospital is proud to be one of the first in the region to provide this level of tailored support – part of its broader commitment to improving services in response to recent national performance challenges.

The tour is freely available for all via the Trust's website.