A Cardiff based immersive technology in healthcare pioneer is overfunding after its successful crowdfunding campaign secured backing from a wide range of investors.

Insider Media reports Rescape Innovation has already raised more than £350,000 through Crowdcube to help the company expand its use of virtual reality in the treatment of patients and to help frontline NHS staff.

With one week left to invest, backers so far include doctors, health technology experts, business and academic leaders, and the Development Bank of Wales.

Last month we reported that the Crowdcube fundraise had smashed its first goal within hours of its launch. Rescape now has the opportunity to overfund.

Rescape partnered with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and the Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University to demonstrate the very human benefits VR has brought to frontline NHS teams facing Covid-19, and the potential to roll out this technology and increase the adoption of VR in a range of future medical treatment plans.

Rescape already has a track record in the use of VR to support patient recovery and rehabilitation, working with cancer patients at Velindre Hospital, and cystic fibrosis patients in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and the value of VR has also been evidenced in mums in childbirth.

Through its DR.VR platform VR is being used to help reduce anxiety and stress amongst NHS staff tackling the pandemic.

Launching the Crowdcube fundraise, Rescape Innovation chief executive Matt Wordley said the business already has interest from more than ten hospitals and trusts across the UK in the next scale up of trials.

Luke Lang, co-founder of Crowdcube, said “Rescape joins a growing list of healthcare technology businesses that have successfully fundraised with Crowdcube since the Covid-19 pandemic started earlier this year.

“Rescape’s mission to use virtual reality to help reduce stress and anxiety for NHS employees and improve patient wellbeing has clearly inspired people to invest in the innovative business, which is now overfunding.”