Devizes NHS Treatment Centre today became the first NHS hospital in the UK to launch a Google Business View virtual tour offering people the opportunity to explore the building from the comfort of their own homes.

The virtual tour showcases the facilities available to NHS patients at the treatment centre in Marshall Road, giving the chance to look at the operating theatres, consulting rooms, recovery wards, waiting areas and reception.

Kevin Walsh, centre manager at Devizes NHS Treatment Centre, said: “Every patient is important to us and we understand that a visit to hospital can sometimes be stressful.

"Our team works very hard to make sure that people are fully prepared for treatment and that includes inviting patients to meet the team and their consultant prior to surgery.

"We believe this virtual tour is a natural extension to that familiarity process.

“Supporting patients to be as relaxed as possible before, during and after their treatment is a fundamental part of our work.

"I believe that by launching this virtual tour we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to patient satisfaction and I hope that people will find it a useful tool prior to their appointment with us.”

Care UK operates Devizes NHS Treatment Centre on behalf of the NHS and 1,800 people visit every month.

Patients referred to the treatment centre enjoy some of the shortest waiting times in the region for a variety of day-case diagnostic and surgical procedures and it has an excellent reputation for putting patients first, saying 94 per cent of people rate it as excellent.

The virtual tour can be accessed on Google maps using postcode SN10 3UF or by visiting www.devizestreatmentcentre.nhs.uk/take-look-inside